MileStat.com\'s Brandon Miles interviews Mountain View sophomore Thomas Porter who held off Kevin Schwab of Oklahoma for the final spot to San Diego for Foot Locker Nationals in finishing tenth overall in the seeded race at Foot Locker South with a personal best time of 15:13. Porter is the only underclassmen qualifier among the South region boys and has a sensational finish this fall after being ranked outside of the top ten in the state earlier in the season. Porter helped Virginia have their first trio of boys\' qualifiers since 2001 with Bobby Lockhart, Matt Keally, and Fleet Hower.
Audio Version of Interview
MileStat.com: Thomas, how did you feel the race went today? Were you surprised by the finish?
Thomas Porter: Well I got out the way I wanted to. Mike (Spooner) let me in right behind him at the starting line, so I didn\'t have to go back five rows. That really helped a lot. I got out where I needed to be. I was towards the front and had a good pack ahead of me. The whole race I just kept moving up and moving up. I worked with Jason (Witt) through the middle mile. We kept swinging by each other and picking off more guys. Before I knew it, I found myself in 11th and was right there.
MileStat.com: When you came onto the lake for the second time, what place were you in and what were you thinking as you were going around the lake?
Porter: About two steps before the lake I was 11th. I came around the corner and saw a guy on the ground. I just sprinted by him and was like \"This is it! We got to go!\" I just took off and started going. I heard from everyone because I guess everyone was waiting for a great race for number ten. People I didn\'t know. People I knew. \"He\'s right behind you! He\'s right behind you! He\'s coming! He\'s right behind you!\" I just kept pushing it and I wasn\'t going to let anyone squeezing it past me again on the last step.
MileStat.com: Now what was your training like this season because you started off the season kind of slow, but then you really came on at the end at the state meet and then of course your race today beat your state meet race. Kind of talk about how the training went for you this fall.
Porter: I went to Nike Outdoors last year, so I went a little extra than normal. I had a really long break, so I got into the summer training a little late. I did that knowingly that I was going to peak later in the year. So I just moved it up and put on the blinders and not really care about what everyone else was doing. I just did my own thing and knew where I was. I just kept getting better because I was doing better than last year, so I knew I had to be moving up. I got to the end and I had it.
MileStat.com: Last year you won the freshmen race here and was it in your mind today to stay as the top kid in your class?
Porter: Well we went to the meet headquarters yesterday and got to see my name on the board for the record. When we got here this morning and I think it was the one time I stood up and saw the guy finishing (in the freshmen race). He was at the two mile right where I was (last year) at 10:15. I was just crossing my fingers and saw him finish. He lost time on the straightaway at the end. I think I got four seconds on him. I guess beating my class was nice.
MileStat.com: What are thoughts for Foot Locker Nationals. I\'m sure you are excited to go out to San Diego. What are your hopes out there?
Porter: Just to have fun. I\'m not looking to take it any differently than what I\'ve been doing all year. Just do my thing, put on the blinders, run my hope, and hope things come out on top.
MileStat.com: Well congratulations on your big race today and good luck in two weeks.
Porter: Thank you.