Foot Locker National Finalist Q&A: Steven Cross

Steven Cross had a spectacular junior season finishing first or second in all of his in-state races. The Merritt Island standout was second at the 3A Cross Country Finals and continued his season at the Foot Locker South Regional where he ran a new personal best time of 15:01 and finished 8th to advance to this weekend's Foot Locker Nationals. We caught up with Steven before he left for San Diego to talk about his Foot Locker South, his training, goals for Saturday, and much more!

The Cross Country Finals were a little less than a month ago. You finished as the 3A runner-up behind NXN finalist Sukhi Khosla. After two weeks, you were at it again at Foot Locker South. What was your training like during that time?

The week directly after the state meet was business as usual. I didn't want to change anything up too much and throw me off my game. The week leading up to Foot Locker South consisted of short mileage and speed workouts. A little circuit workout in the middle of the week, and some 200's on the Wednesday before.

What was the game plan at Foot Locker South?

The game plan was to go out fast and not get boxed in. Last year, I had a bad experience at Foot Locker due to this and didn't plan on a repeat this year. After the first half-mile to mile I planned on settling in on my pace and holding on to that lead pack.

You finish 8th in 15:01 just ahead of fellow Floridian Nick Diaz. Three seconds separated third (14:58) from 9th. What was that finish like and what were your overall thoughts of the race?

The whole race was intense and overall just a different race then I have experienced all year. I'm not used to the front pack consisting of ten plus guys, but this definitely gave me motivation to keep pushing.

Last year you were 92nd. What do you think the difference between this year and last year were? 

Like I mentioned before the start of the race was a big deciding factor for me on race day, with that number of runners in a fast-narrowing course it is hard to make up ground. I have also developed a lot physically over the last year and have improved my overall running ability through a lot of hard miles and workouts over the course of the year.

Besides Foot Locker South, you won or were runner-up in all of your races this season. How would you sum up this season so far?

I can't complain. I wasn't exactly where I wanted to be time-wise, also excluding Foot Locker south, but I'm still grateful for the opportunities that I have been presented with and am prepared to push myself to my limits in order to achieve the most that I can.

One last meet left. What was your preparation/training like this week?

I did short mileage and some speed work. I also did a little circuit training on Tuesday, very similar to the week leading up to the regional meet.

This is one of the most competitive meets you will have run in your high school career. What is the game plan and what are the goals coming in?

The game plan is to again go out fast and to push myself well beyond my comfort zone in hopes of doing the best I can possibly do right now. I just look at it as when it is this close between all of the competitors in the race, it can be anybody's. I wouldn't go counting anyone out just yet.

Another Floridian Nick Diaz is also making the trip. What does it mean to you do have a fellow Floridian along for the ride?

It's truly incredible to have Nick going up to San Diego as well, he really earned it. I think Florida will have a good showing on the National level having him and me representing. Nick and I have had a couple battles of the year, but that's just on the course. Off the course he's one of my good friends and I was just as happy to hear he made it then when I realized that I had.

What are you looking forward to most about just the overall experience of going to San Diego and experiencing a national meet?

I am looking forward to meeting the top high school cross country runners in the nation and being able to compete with them. I am also very much looking forward for whatever Foot Locker has in store for us up there and for the pro-runner experience that Foot Locker provides.

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