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Name: Quintin Lowe
School: Batavia
Sport: Cross country, junior
Why he was selected: Lowe qualified for the Class 3A state cross country meet with a time of 15:51.53 at sectionals. Kane County Chronicle sports reporter Jacob Bartelson caught up with Lowe to discuss his season. Below is an edited transcript, presented by Don McCue Chevrolet in St. Charles.
Bartelson: How gratifying is it to run the race that you did and be able to advance?
Lowe: Going into this race, I knew it was going to be the toughest sectional, so basically, the main goal was to run good and qualify for state, which I did. The race, it was pretty difficult because it was super muddy and all that, so I knew it was going to take a good effort to qualify and I did that.
Bartelson: What was your game plan going in? Are you the type of runner that wants to get off to a fast start with the pack or do you stay patient and wait for your spot to make a move?
Lowe: I tend to go out faster, so right off the bat, I usually go to the front. Once I get to the front, I settle down and move with the front pack for the first mile. Once it breaks up toward a mile and a half mark, I try to find a good pack to run with and just stick until the last half mile. [Then], just give it whatever I have left.
Bartelson: Usually the last 400 meters or so are exciting. What do you remember of your last race at that point?
Lowe: Basically, the entire race I was between the 15th- to 25th-place [runners]. I remember I was [about] 20th going into the last mile. I remember that last mile was very, very difficult because I was tired. My legs were tired. I just knew I had to finish the race off strong. I basically sprinted all the way into the final stretch. Once I saw the finish line, I started sprinting as hard as I could and tried to pass a bunch of people.
Bartelson: Is this your first or second time qualifying for state?
Lowe: Technically, I qualified last year [for the unofficial non-IHSA state meet]. … I’m very excited. Getting to state was a goal from the beginning of the year.