MVCC.COM: First and foremost, when did you start running and why?

Raleigh Morgan: I didn't start running hard core until Freshman year, but I ran Track in elementary school.

MVCC.COM: What has been your most favorite running memory?

Raleigh Morgan: Winning SECTIONS this year!!!!

MVCC.COM: Are you happy with the recent Section 5A Championships?

Raleigh Morgan: I am overly excited!!! It hasn't really set in yet, ha just kidding. I am always saying, "Section Champs right here!" to everyone. And as a team whenever someone says "Section Champs" we start clapping!

MVCC.COM: You started out a little more conservative than normal, do you think that helped your race quite a bit? Will you try it at the State Meet?

MVCC.COM: What will have to happen in order for the Mustangs to bring home a top 10 finish?

MVCC.COM: Do you have a favorite distance runner?

Raleigh Morgan: It would have to be PRE.

MVCC.COM: Where are you looking for college next year? Will you be running?

Raleigh Morgan: I am looking at a bunch of DIII schools. I will almost 100 percent be running!!

MVCC.COM: Thanks for your time Raleigh. Best of luck at the State Meet this weekend!

Assistant Coach Mark Skildum

MVCC.COM: When did you start running, and why?

Coach Skildum: I started racing distance in Middle School because it was the easiest way to get a ribbon at the district track meet.  I started really running the summer before my junior year of high school.  I had lettered in skiing the year before and I made the decision that I was going to train as hard as I could for endurance sports and see where it took me.

MVCC.COM: What is your favorite CC memory from High School, how about from College?

Coach Skildum: College was running Pre-Nats my senior year in calf deep mud, a crazy race but a ton of fun.  My favorite high school memory was being 5th man on JV at Mountain Lake my Junior year and finishing out the perfect score for my team. How many guys get to be on a team that scores 15?

MVCC.COM: What do you like best about coaching?

Coach Skildum: I like being able to engage in competitive activity while being horrendously

out of shape.

MVCC.COM: Who would win in a Cage Match, Coach without legs vs. you without arms?

 
Coach Skildum: I would easily win.  It's obvious that this fight would go to the ground where I

would finish him with a triangle leg choke at 1:15 in the first round.

MVCC.COM: Goals for this season?

Coach Skildum: Win section, be top 6 at the state meet.  Have the young guys learn a bit about

what it takes to get it done.

MVCC.COM: Name the dark horse of the JV:

Coach Skildum: Alex "Memphis" Strange

MVCC.COM: Dark horse of the Varsity:

Coach Skildum: Andrew Chirhart

MVCC.COM: Favorite American Distance Runner, and Why?

Coach Skildum: Carrie Tollefson or Kara Goucher, I'll support any Minnesota runner who's racing on the world stage.  I'm also a pretty big Bob Kennedy fan because of how hard he trained and how fearlessly he raced.

MVCC.COM: Favorite Workout to run? Favorite workout to prescribe?

Coach Skildum: Favorite to run - 10x400m with 60 seconds rest trying to average as fast as you

can.  My college coach Bill Thornton would record our times for that workout and post them on our team's bulletin board, if you were slower than you were the week before you definitely heard about it from him. To Prescribe - 4x1 Mile @ 2 mile pace with 5:00 min recovery.  VO2 development is critical for high school cross country runners.

MVCC.COM: Who do you predict to be the top 3 at the Marathon Olympic Trials on Nov 3rd?

Coach Skildum: Abdi, Hall and Sell

MVCC.COM: Advice for the younger guys just starting out in this sport?

Coach Skildum: Work hard and be patient. Succeeding in endurance sports takes time, new pr's

that are measured in seconds can take years to achieve. Train more.

MVCC.COM: Thanks for your time Coach Skildum. Best of luck at the section and state meets!