Brian Long is the first athlete of the 2006 Cross Country season to be highlighted in the weekly Runner Spotlight with KYtrackXC.com. Brian is a senior at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and was a key element in Saint Xavier's winning the Class AAA State Championship last year. He ran a personal best 15:36 at Footlocker South last year to finish 29th. He followed cross country up with a great track season in which he was runner-up in the Class AAA 1600 with a 4:21.51. Brian started this season with a victory at the Tiger Run.
Personal Best Times
1600 meters: 4:21.51
3200 meters: 9:23.28
5000 meters: 15:36
Favorite Race:
My favorite race would have to be Nike Team Nationals last year. With all the great teams and the craziness of the course, we all had an awesome time.
You can watch the race at
http://dyestat.com/3us/5xc/NTN/nationals/video/index.htm#raceday.
Favorite Course:
My favorite course is Footlocker South Regional. The course is run mostly in the woods, and it is very flat. I have run a lot of my best times there.
How is the experience of running at Nike Team Nationals going to help you this upcoming season?
It showed me that in big races time does not always matter. The race was all about the team and not how well each individual ran. It also showed me that no matter how bad the conditions are on the course, it\'s the same for everyone.
Describe what it felt like to run at NTN last year.
It was not until Great American that we had any idea what Nike Team
Nationals were or that we had a shot at going. From then on we knew we had to run our best races to hold our rank. Once we finally got there, it felt great to know all of our hard work had paid off. It was great to meet the other top teams in the nation. It was a great experience and a perfect end to the season.
What colleges are you looking at?
I am looking at Iona, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Tennessee (alphabetical).
What race are you looking forward to most this season?
I\'m looking forward to state. It should be really exciting to see how things pan out toward the end of the season.
How would you describe the rivalry between Trinity and Saint X in cross country compared to other sports?
Saint X and Trinity have always had a rivalry. Whether it is in academics or athletics it is not very different.
Do you feel you have a direct rivalry with Ethan Short since you are both seniors who have been racing each other for 4 years now?
I have been running next to Ethan since about 5th grade. Actually we are good friends, but since he goes to Trinity and I go to St. X that adds to it.
What do you think about your team chances this season?
We lost a lot of seniors, and Trinity did not. Trinity will be tough to beat, but we are working hard. It should be a very exciting season.
Favorite Band or Musician:
I listen to In Flames before every race to get pumped up. Other than that I listen to a large mix of things some of which are: Brand New, The Living End, Sam Bush, Angels & Airwaves, and Luca Turilli.
What other talents or skills do you have besides running (ex: mad basketball skillz or you can sing)?
I am a learning/rookie mandolin player. I also play quite a bit of tennis with some friends.
How did it feel to get the year started with a big win at the Tiger Run?
It felt good to start off well, but with it being the first race of the season it means nothing. November is when it matters.
Your teammate Justin Bowling finished the race well. Do you think the rest of the team will be able to move up closer to you and Justin?
Training has been going well and the team looks very solid. I think they will be able to move up as the year progresses. Once we get to race more state-wide competition it will be easier to see where we stand and what areas need more improvement.