Rochester, MI

Interview is on OU’s Adam Frezza and the MidCon Championship race that he and his team won this year. Ou also won the race in 2002. Individually at the MidCon, Frezza has placed: 1st – 2005; 3rd – 2003; 5th – 2002; 8th – 2001. Adam has also been a 3 time 1st team all conference runner (05, 03, 02) and a 2nd team all conference (01).

RunMichigan:  What was your race strategy today?

AF: Just go out conservative and wait for Jess Baumgartner (SUU) to come up on my side.  Then I would just run with him for a fast time.  Whomever would win would be up in the air, but he would definitely help with a good time.

RunMichigan: Can you describe how the race unfolded for you?

AF: The race ended up being me leading from the gun, which I didn’t want to do.  I fell down and slipped on my left hip right after 4K, but after 6K James Wanjiku (Oral Roberts U.) caught up and passed me.  Basically, it was all-out for the last 200 meters with Wanjiku while we were neck and neck.

RunMichigan: How did your previous Mid-Con experience help you today?

AF: Two years ago, I led the race for the first 2 miles and died out towards the end.  So, it helped having that experience to teach myself to work the race conservatively.

RunMichigan: When you fell today, what went through you mind and how did you stay focus on winning?

AF: I was thinking I have to catch back up to Paul Kulisek (OU teammate) but once I did, he said relax. That helped because after a fall, you have a tendency to want to change your pace and that can cause you to tighten up.

RunMichigan: How does it feel to win both a team championship and the individual title?

AF: It feels great, I never put much emphasis on this race this year because I want to qualify for Nationals.  It definitely qualifies as an added bonus.

RunMichigan: How does today (MidCon Championships) prepare your team and you for the NCAA D1 Great Lakes Regional (Nov 12th)?

AF: Today helped the team realize its potential and how good we can do when we work together during the race.  I expect everyone to run their best in two weeks (Nov 12th) and I know we all are capable of it.  As far as it goes for me, I am just glad I could win another meet especially the meet between pre-nationals and regionals.  Both of those races are huge and winning the conference meet can only help me for regionals.

Thanks for the great interview! (Interview conducted by John Brabbs)