Brittany Bowman (Camden Hills HS)
2011 Performances
| 5000m | 21:33.91 | KVAC: Gar, Bel, Brew, Leav, Hamp, CH, Mar @ Cony |
| 5000m | 19:17.69PR | KVAC: Lin, EL, Law, CH, Ersk, Bel. Ocean @ Medomak Valley |
| 5000m | 20:12.62 | KVAC: Ersk, Mor, Med, Lin, Ocean, CH @ Belfast |
| 5000m | 19:38.20 | KVAC: Medomak, Camden Hills, Mt Ararat @ Oceanside |
You’ve had a strong season to date including a personal best 19:17 5k, how has your training gone so far this season?
My training has been pretty good. I have had no injuries, and I have shown signs of improvement from last year. I have been increasing my mileage which I think has helped. During the summer I trained for a seven mile race in Massachusetts which I have run ever since I was seven so I had a solid base heading into this cross country season. Now I am just expanding on that base and running more intense workouts.
Last year you finished 2nd in the freshman race at FOC, then on the same course ran at the Class B State meet finished 3rd, do you enjoy running on the Belfast course? What makes it a good course?
I do enjoy running on the Belfast course. It has very few hills so it is a fast course. Also there are a lot of opportunities for spectators to stand and cheer, so that extra motivation is nice.
Your best time on the Belfast course was 19:31 last season; you ran 20:12 in the 2nd meet of your season this year. Do you have a certain time goal in mind for Saturday? Or will you be aiming for a certain place?
On Saturday I am hoping to break 19:30. So I want to get a new best time on that course. When I ran the 20:12 earlier this month it was very hot and humid so I hope I will have a shot at achieving my goal. I am looking forward to the competition this meet because I will be racing against the top runners of the state and most of the time I never race against them during the season. So I am aiming for top ten.
This year your team Camden Hills has been having a great year, you are currently ranked #4 in the MaineTrackXC Fan/Athlete poll. Compared to last year, how has it been to have a very good team this fall? What are your team goals for the FOC?
We have had a fantastic season so far. We are a very young team with a lot of potential (6 out of the 7 varsity runners are either sophomores or freshman). This year the freshman are very enthusiastic about running. It has been great to have a good, competitive team because everyone has been pushing each other to their limits. We have also already seen incredible improvements on the team. Some people are starting to show what a runner they truly are.
On Saturday our team goal is to place in the top three. Last year we placed 20th, but we are much stronger this year. We are looking forward to compete against the other top teams in both class A and B especially MDI and John Bapst. Up to this point we have not faced any intense competitions, so this will be the first time this season we will experience competition. Festival of Champions is a nice meet because halfway through the season, as a team, we can see where we compare to others.
This year you have been the #2 runner on your team, what’s it like to have someone of freshman Willow Parker ability to train with each day? Has she made you a better runner?
Throughout part of the winter, and spring I have motivated Willow. During the winter I sometimes would see her running, but it was not until the spring when we practiced together. During the spring she informally practiced with the high school track team so we have been running with and against each other since that point. She has made incredible improvements with her running (such as more than just a few minutes off of her 5K time from a year ago) so now not only do I motivate her, but she motivates me. Willow has proved that hard work pays off, so now during practice when I am about to run that last 400 meter repeat, I always try to put everything into it.
I think that up to this point, losing my #1 spot on the team from last year has made me mentally stronger. I now know how to lose to a team mate which is powerful.
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