Interview with Coach Smolka

Sept. 11, 2006

The Florida Atlantic University cross country team is looking forward to this weekend's Gator Invitational.

It will be the team's first meet since the Nova Southeastern Invitational. Friederike Feil and Trisha Doyle finished first and second at the meet which allowed the FAU women to take the team title by one point.

At last year's Gator Invitational, the Owl women placed third, a single point behind second-place Florida Southern. This gives head coach Alex Smolka reason to be confident as his team prepares for the competition.

"We really focused in practice this week, we had a great week of practice. If we can keep that up, we will do well in Gainesville", coach Smolka said.

The men will be competing as a team for the first time at the meet, after members ran as individuals at the Nova meet. There are seven freshman listed on the men's roster, but coach Smolka feels that his team will be able to step up.

"We have so many young runners that it's a bit of uncharted water for our guys. If we run like we have in practice, we should do well," he said.

The Gator Invitational begins Saturday at 8 a.m.