Foot Locker Finalist Q&A: Jake Brophy

Jake Brophy of Central Bucks East is your 2014 AAA boys state champion and state course record holder. Brophy's state meet performance ended a PA season that featured the 2nd fastest time in the state (15:08), 5 wins, and a Foot Locker Finals berth as the only junior to qualify out of the Northeast Region. Brophy talked to PennTrackXC about the lastest achievement on what has been a spectacular ride!

How was your training following the state meet?

My coach had me revamp my mileage count the week after the state meet, reaching a considerable amount again. For workouts, we focused on some speed work as well as tempo. The last couple weeks leading up to regionals we backed off a little, but not too much to retain something  for nationals, if I made it. 

 

Did you alter your preparations for this year’s Foot Locker regional meet compared to years past?

This was my first year that I had even considered running in the regional meet, so it was uncharted territory for me. I just focused on holding out another month, and then performing accordingly at Regionals.

 

What were your thoughts on the course? Is it a course you are a fan of?

I liked the course a lot actually. It was certainly challenging, but I really enjoyed running it. It is hard to find a course that rivals the difficulty of Hershey, but I think this one is up in that category. It was interesting, and anything can happen in those back hills.

 

What was the strategy heading into the race? What did you need to do in order to be successful?

I had really focused on States as my peak performance for the season, so going into the race I had taken a very low pressure attitude towards it, and I just went out there to see what I could do.  I knew I had to remain in contact with the top 10, and I never slipped past around 12-15th place.

 

Was this the best race you have run all season? Why did it go so well?

I took a low pressure attitude towards this race, so a lot of the stress was removed from the equation. But, I think as a straight time to effort comparison, Hershey was probably the better race for me. However, it doesn’t discourage me going into Nationals because I will have more of a taper in my training for this race. I feel a lot fresher now than I did before regionals so I am excited to see what happens.

 

What does it mean to qualify for the Foot Locker finals for the first time?

It means the world. Coming into this season, I hadn’t even fully decided I would even run regionals. But this is awesome. I haven’t even left for San Diego yet, and the experience is already very cool. I can’t wait to race against the best in the nation, and hopefully represent PA and the Northeast well.

 

Did your race schedule and the quality of competition in those meets allow you to be at your best at Foot Locker Northeast?

The other qualifier from PA, Casey Comber, also happens to be in my league. We have a friendly rivalry going and we keep both our paces honest. I raced him 5 times throughout the season, so there was always the pressure to train harder for the next time I saw him.  He is a great guy and a great athlete, and I am looking forward to racing him again in California.  When I wasn’t racing him, I was racing other stiff competition like Kevin James and Jaxson Hoey at invitationals. There really wasn’t a place to hide in the season, and early defeats, at Belmont and the PIAA Foundation Race, starved me.

 

What are you most looking forward to about the trip to San Diego?

Well, this is a homecoming of sorts for me. I was actually born in Balboa Naval Hospital which this course overlooks. Also, I am looking forward to the race on Saturday morning and the experience as a whole. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the time spent in San Diego, and I am eager to arrive. The warm weather is a plus too.

 

With this being your first time going, what have you heard about the meet from others that have competed at the Foot Locker Finals?

I read a couple of journals from previous qualifiers, and it is nothing but positive things. The descriptions of the dance/banquet/last night make me excited. I think the coolest part will be able to get to know like-minded people all across the nation. I’m also eager to meet the famous athletes who stop by.

 

What is your goal for the Foot Locker Finals?

We will see what happens. I feel confident and fresh, so I plan to leave everything on the course and see what happens.