MileStat.com\'s Brandon Miles interviews Abingdon junior Griff Graves, who led the way for Team Virginia at Footlocker South Regionals as the first of three Footlocker Nationals qualifiers from the state and also help Virginia to the state team title (top five scorers) with his third place time of 14:55. The two-time 2A state cross country champion Graves will be joined in San Diego on December 9th for Foot Locker Nationals by fellow Virginians in Mike Spooner and Thomas Porter.
Audio version of the interview
MileStat.com: Griff, what were expectations coming into today and what did you think about your race performance?
Griff Graves: My expectations were just to stay with the leaders and not be caught off in the eighth and tenth spots at the end because I don\'t have a very good kick. Which actually today, I proved that wrong. I was able to outkick Girma and that was pretty impressive. I was pumped mostly about that. I didn\'t get a very start off. I was about 30th something at the mile and I had to work to get there. Then going up the hill I kind of got it together and got back up with (Mike) Spooner and the guys. I was little more comfortable then.
MileStat.com: You have had some pretty good races this season that historically one can say would have you looking pretty good coming into here. Your 15:03 at Wendy\'s on this course and also the time you put up on the Tazewell course (Graves\' regional meet) is pretty impressive considering what Fleet (Hower) did on that course. Did that have any affect on you confidence wise coming in? Knowing how you peformed in those races?
Graves: Yeah it really helped. The state race was not so great this year because the course was a little messy. It really helped that I did that well at Tazewell and Wendy\'s really pumped me up. It let me know I was in shape and ready to come out here and do it.
MileStat.com: Looking ahead to two weeks at Balboa Park, it is a bit more hillier than this course here. Does that raise your expectations versus what you might have had coming in here considering you come from a pretty hilly area of the state and a good background of racing well on hilly courses?
Graves: I mean I love it. Bring it on. I love hills. The more hills, the better. Thats basically when I caught back up today in going up the hill. Hopefully not as many downhills, but I can deal with hills.
MileStat.com: How excited to have three fellow Virginians on the boys\' side joining you on the trip?
Graves: I am so excited. I could not ask for more. I hope we win today, which I think we are close between Georgia and us. But hopefully we win today and can\'t wait to have the guys traveling with me. I hope we get to stay in the same room or whatever, but I don\'t know how that all works. Its cool.
MileStat.com: Well congratulations on your race today in qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals and good luck in two weeks in San Diego.
Graves: Thank you.