DeSmet Senior Tom Albes enters the 2006 State Meet as the Sectional 2 Champion and is a favorite to grab one of the top 5 spots in the Class 4 Boys race. Albes has risen steadily all year finishing 14th at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival, 5th at Rim Rock, 3rd at the MCC Conference Meet, 2nd at Districts and 1st at Sectionals. Big River caught up with Tom as he prepares for his last cross country race in a DeSmet uniform.

BR: Give us a quick overview of your season and how things are setting up as you prepare for Saturday's race.

TA: I think the season as a whole has gone pretty well. Things started a little slow for me. It took me a little while to get my legs under me but once October hit after Rim Rock and after two-a-days things just really started clicking. Saturday's Sectional Meet was the first Varsity race that I've ever won and it felt really good and gave me a lot of confidence. It set me up well heading into my senior year State Meet. It's kind of weird that in a couple of days it will all be over.

BR: Is there a specific gameplan for Saturday?

TA: I think I'm going to go into it expecting anything to happen. Two years ago it went out really slow. I'm just going to stick with the leaders and be ready to go over the last mile.

BR: Is there anyone in particular that you will key off of?

TA: Well, obviously Matt [Lawder from SLUH]. He's an excellent runner and competitor and I love competing against him but really it's State so I'll just be keeping an eye on Quigley and Rood and knowing that it could blow wide open at any time and I'll have to be ready.

Thanks for the interview Tom and best of luck at State.

*** This is the first of many quickie interview we'll be doing this week to preview the State week.