Greg Dame is one of NC\'s top returnees. He had an outstanding track season and is hoping to have a great senior year. This is a preseason, online interview.
Coach Hovis: Greg, when did you decide to start running?
Greg: Well I always thought that running was something I could be good at. I first started seriously running by doing middle school track in 7th and 8th grade.
Coach Hovis: Did you play any other sports growing up?
Greg: I played a lot of sports. I played soccer, baseball, and ice hockey for a little while. I enjoyed soccer the most like many runners do before they get into running
Coach Hovis: When did you start concentrating on running?
Greg: When I started high school. My main sport was soccer up to that point, but I got hooked on running through middle school track and wanted to just continue running in high school.
Coach Hovis: Greg, you have always been a solid contributor to Mount Tabor\'s team, but I feel you made a big jump last year. What do you feel led to your improvement?
Greg: It was really just a consistent approach. I\'ve slowly increased my mileage as I\'ve progressed through high school and I\'ve been blessed to have never been seriously injured. It also helped that I had a training partner in Matt Hamrick, who showed what had to be done to take it to that \'next\' level. Also the workouts that my coaches laid out for me were fantastic.
Coach Hovis: Matt was obviously a great training partner, who you learned a lot from. How do you feel about being the top guy now, the leader on and off the course?
Greg: It is a change, but this past track season our coaches actually split us up in workouts, so Matt could better prepare for the mile and the 2-mile for me. So I'm pretty well prepared for it.
Coach Hovis: Last year you finished 17th at the NCHSAA 4A state meet, then had an outstanding track season, running 9:34 and 4:22. What kind of goals does that lead to for this XC season?
Greg: Well the ultimate goal for me as a team and as an individual is to win a state title. I would say that I\'m up there with the best of the runners in the state and I don\'t want to train to be the 5th best runner in the state. I want to train like I\'m going to be the best and wherever I finish I can know that I gave my best shot.
Coach Hovis: Sounds great! What is the first race of the season for you and Mount Tabor?
Greg: We have a pre-city/county meet tomorrow then the real city/county next week. Our first big meet is the Seahawk Invite.
Coach Hovis: Well I wish you the best of luck. I\'m looking forward to watching you race sometime this season. One last question, are you planning to run in college and which colleges are at the top of your list right now?
Greg: I\'m definitely planning on running in college. Right now I\'m pretty open, but I have talked to State, UNC, and High Point.
Coach Hovis: Excellent choices. I hope it works out for you.