Thomas Graham of Cary Academy ran 15:37 at last year's Foot Locker South Regional. His time placed him 24th overall and he was the top 9th grader in the region by 30 seconds! Thomas also won his 1st 
How has your summer training been, Thomas?
Summer training has been great for me. I started off with some low mileage weeks and just worked into it, which I think was a good way to do it. We had a group of some runners from the area that met at umstead once a week or so to do a longer run, which was a good way to get in longer runs and meet some of the other guys that I don't get to talk to as much being in a private school. The last two weeks I spent at Coach Geiger's Reebok XC camp in Asheville, which was probably the high point of my summer. Aside from quality runs with great college runners (and Ian Dobson, a 2008 olympian), it's just a fun way to cap off a good summer. I would recommend it to anybody for next summer. Overall, I feel pretty good coming into the season.
I've noticed that you raced a few times this summer. Were those good "fitness tests"? How did you like racing over the 5k distance?
Yeah, I started off my summer training by doing the Race for the Cure. I felt pretty good through that, and I got to talk to Sandy Roberts, which was probably the highlight of the day. I also ran two 4 mile races, the Great Raleigh Road Race, and one in my dad's hometown in Minnesota. I ran about the same times for each of those, but used them as more of a hard tempo effort than an all out race. 5K is definitely my favorite distance so far, but I think that, judging from the 4 milers, I'll probably be better at 8 to 10K once I get to college.
You had a great track season, running 9:35 and 4:24 as a 9th grader. I'm sure it didn't end as you were hoping, as you were sick at the NCISAA state meet, but what did you take from last year's track season?
The state meet was definitely a disappointment for me. I was hoping to run a much better 2 mile than I ended up doing, but at least it wasn't my senior season. At the beginning of the season my coach said that he wanted my freshman season to be a time used for continued base-building and to gain racing experience, and, in terms of those goals, it was a success. I wasn't in any major races solo, dogwood invite, raleigh relays, etc., but that's the plan for next year.
Which do you prefer, XC or track?
XC season is my favorite part of the year without a doubt. To start, I love running cross country because of the races, the atmosphere, the weather, and a whole ton of different reasons. It's just a whole different sport from track, and I think it's both more exciting, and plays more to my strengths. In track, I don't really have the leg speed yet to be successful at anything below 2 miles, and I didn't really get to see how well I could run over that distance this season. The fall is great also because you're not bored of being back to school yet, it's nice to see people again, and there's football to watch too, so there's never a dull moment.
There is some great young talent in the NCISAA right now, with yourself, Scott Foy of Charlotte Country Day, and Fred & Carl Ward from Durham Academy. How does the talent level motivate or drive you?
During cross country season last year, all of them ran some really good races and it was too bad that the Wards were under the weather at states. I was definitely looking forward to that race. In track, I saw a lot of their backs, which is something that I would love to have happen less this season. DA and my school have developed something of a rivalry in the last few years, and so it's always exciting to race them. The next few years should have some good races in the NCISAA.
You finished 24th at last year's Foot Locker South Regional, running 15:37 as a freshman. That leaves you as the 8th returner in the region from FL South. Is qualifying for Nationals a goal for you?
Yes, that's for the most part my sole goal for the season. I met a guy, Clint Mckelvey, who was 8th in the region last year, and so after hearing his stories about nationals and San Diego, I was hooked on the idea. There will be important races along the way, obviously, but Foot Locker South is the priority this season.
What other goals do you have this season?
I didn't really set any time goals for this season. Whatever it takes to make it in the top 10 at South is the time that I'm looking to hit. In the past, it's been around 15:10, which seems a little bit intimidating now, but with a long season of training and the crazy competition in the seeded race, it's hopefully a possibility.
Finally, what is your favorite XC course at this point?
Because of all the races that I ran on it last season, and just for the way that it runs, WakeMed soccer park is definitely my favorite course at this point. Our state meet was there last year, it was the first course that I broke 16 minutes on, and I do a lot of runs there, so all that adds up. The Great American XC festival is actually going to be held there this season, which is a great thing for Cary and most of the state. I actually won't be running that race because of other states' restrictions about competing with private schools, even with unattached private school runners. I was pretty miffed when I heard that; when the best race in the east half of the country is 3 miles from your school, it's pretty hard not to be able to run. Hopefully I'll be able to find a way in before my senior year, though.
Overall, I'm really pumped for the season to start, and hopefully it'll be a good one.
