Grand Blanc (Mich.) senior Grant Fisher | Photo courtesy of the Fisher family
On Dec. 13, Grant Fisher will get the opportunity to defend his national title at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship finals on Morley Field at Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif.
The Grand Blanc (Mich.) senior advanced to the race after he won the Foot Locker Cross Country Midwest Regional in 15:00 on Nov. 28. He enters nationals as a defending Division I state champion — he ran the third fastest time in state history, 14:52.5. Fisher’s running idol, Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, owns the 14:10.4 state record.
For a guy who grew up playing soccer and simply got into running as a way to stay in shape, he still finds his circumstance ironic.
“I didn’t think it would turn out like this,” said Fisher, who was named the 2013-14 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Fisher caught up with USA TODAY High School Sports to talk about his race expectations and strategy for potentially securing his second consecutive national victory.
Question: Describe your experience at the 2013 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. How do you anticipate this year’s race to be different?
Answer: Last year I hadn’t been on the national cross country stage before. Everything was new. I didn’t know what to expect going into the race. I enjoyed it and met a lot of guys I’m still friends with.
The race will be just as competitive this year. A lot of the contenders that were there last year will be back. It’s going to be a great race, and it’ll be fun to see those guys again. Competing against them was a lot of fun, and it’s always nice to do that in San Diego in December.
Q: The course is 1.5 miles around Balboa Park. How would you rate its difficulty on a scale of 1-10?
A: I give Balboa an eight or nine. It’s not an impossible course, but it definitely challenges you. The main part that everyone talks about is a big hill — you run up it twice. The race is won or lost on that hill, especially the second time around, when the field split up last year.
Moves are made on that hill, and also on the downhill. A lot of people will hammer the uphill and relax on the downhill. The interesting thing about hills is that no matter how fit you are, they’re always hard, but necessary and make you really strong. This year I’ve tried to prepare myself with a lot of hill training so I can be ready for whatever anyone throws down.
Q: The boys course record is 14:36.8, which was set by Ruben Reina in 1985. You won the race last year in 15:07. What’s your goal time for this race, and what will it take to break that ancient record?
A: It’d be amazing to come close to the record, but I don’t have a time goal for this race. My goal is to win. Whatever it takes is what my goal is time-wise. That’s how I approach a lot of races, especially this one with such a high-caliber field. If I can put myself in the front and execute my race plan and win, a fast time will come.
Q: Last year you and John Dressel of Mt. Spokane High battled neck and neck. He finished just three seconds behind you, and he’ll compete again on Saturday. What are you expecting from him?
A: John’s a very talented and gutsy runner. I’ve tried to prepare for any surges that he or anyone else puts down during the race. I think it’d be a mistake to only watch out for John. Last year there were several juniors in the top 10 — all of them are back, and they’re a lot faster.
Q: Who are you most looking forward to competing against?
A: John and Matthew Maton of Summit High (Bend, Ore.). We were top three, and we’ll all be back. It’ll fun to race them again. John really pushed me and brought out the best in me last year. I’m open to having that experience again.
Fisher ran a sub-15 minute 5K for the second time in his career earlier this season. | Photo courtesy of the Fisher family
Q: How are you mentally preparing for this race?
A: There’s a bit more pressure. Last year nobody knew who I was so I flew under the radar and did my own thing. This year people know who I am and will be looking for any moves I make. I’m trying to not let the pressure dictate how I race. I’m going to try to find the underdog mindset I had last year.
Q: You’ve stated that the night before a race you get nervous and can’t sleep, but it’s a good nervous. You visualize the race and the nerves subside in the morning. What makes you nervous? And what exactly do you visualize?
A: The night before is when I feel the most nerves. No matter what you’re going into, whether it’s a race or a test in school, you always naturally question if you’re ready or not. I like to tell myself that I am and that I’ve done everything to prepare. I’ll walk through my race plan in my head, and the day of I relax. All the training and preparation is done. Racing is the fun part, when you get to put all of your hard work to the test.
Q: How will you adjust your race strategy based on your performance at last year’s Foot Locker Cross Country Championships?
A: I’d rather not give away my race plan (laughs). The guys I’m racing against this year, they might be the same guys, but they’re completely different runners now, and so am I. I think I’m capable of doing a lot of things I wasn’t able to last year. I feel a lot stronger and sharper. Whether that’s due to being older or what not, I feel great right now. This is the most in shape I’ve ever been. I’m ready to compete.
Q: What’s your post-race plan? How will you celebrate whether or not you walk away with the national title, and will you take time to rest?
A: Everyone hung out on the beach last year. The tension from the race was over so it was enjoyable. No matter how the race goes on Saturday, I think it’d be fun to do that again.
Once that’s over, I’ll have to come back to 20 degrees and snow, but I’ll take a week or two off to recover physically and mentally, and then I’ll hit training again.