Setting the Pace with Sean McNamara
10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 15, 2009
With just six weeks remaining in the 2009 campaign, fifth-year senior Sean McNamara (Elmhurst, Ill./York HS) is officially in the twilight of his cross country career. After steady improvement in each of his collegiate seasons, the Wolverine captain looks to cap his strong career with his best season yet.
McNamara earned All-Big Ten first team honors in 2008, placing sixth to headline the Wolverines' runner-up effort on their home course. He followed that performance with a 10th-place showing at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and ran a career-best 30:41.6 in a 77th-place finish at the national event.
This season, McNamara already boasts a pair of top-three performances, claiming runner-up honors at the season-opening Michigan Open and, more recently, taking third place at the Michigan Intercollegiate (Oct. 9).
Amidst the Wolverines' final week off from competition -- and with the team's focus narrowing on the impending postseason -- Sean took a moment to discuss his seasonal improvements, head coach Ron Warhurst's sense of humor and a forthcoming career in currency trading.
On the Wolverine team's dynamic ...
"Well, it's totally different, because we have a really small team. It is kind of an older team, but at the same time we do have a lot of freshmen running right now. It is kind of an interesting mix. I think it brings the whole group closer together, because we are seeing each other all the time. There's a good connection among all five years. It's cool to have guys with different backgrounds. We have guys from all over the U.S., and we've got a couple New Zealand guys. I like imitating their accents."
On improving with each season ...
"I hope so I'm still getting better; I definitely don't want to take a step backwards. I have some big goals in track, and I guess at the end of cross too. So, hopefully, I can keep improving. Individually, I would like to be first team All-Big Ten again. I want the team to make it to nationals again -- this would be the third year in a row -- and hopefully to be an individual All-American in cross. I think that on the right day I could be a candidate for that. So, hopefully, there's a chance for it."
On using cross country as preparation for track season ...
"Cross country is like a big build up for track, which I think in a lot of people's minds is a bigger deal. We definitely take it seriously, but I think track is always in the back of our minds. I think cross country is necessary for a good track season; not having one kind of dooms you. So, the goal is to just be consistent and have a solid cross country season. That sets you up pretty well for track."
On the type of race he prefers ...
"I've done well in fast races, and I have done well in some slower, tactical races. I would say, for me, that tactical is probably better, because I am more of a track guy. I like the shorter distances. But all in all, it doesn't really matter; I just go with the flow. I do like racing in the mud. For some reason I tend to race pretty well in the mud. I couldn't tell you why."
On having Olympic medalist Nick Willis on the coaching staff ...
"It's been a huge help obviously. He brings a lot of information and insight into the sport. He's been around for a few years, but he always goes to New Zealand for a while. I don't blame him; I would leave for the winter too. But he has been around a ton this year, which has been great. He's kind of coming back from injury, so he has been able to run with us on a daily basis."
On coach Ron Warhurst ...
"He's always good for a laugh. You never know what you are going to get out of him, but it has always been a positive. He is obviously a great coach. He's a lot of fun. He's almost just like one of the guys -- even though he's almost 70 years old."
On Michigan's modified training and competition schedule ...
"I feel fresher, and I definitely feel mentally fresher. Often, you tend to race a ton, work really hard and, after eight weeks, you feel burned out. This year, I feel more engaged and more into it -- at a time when we all need to be more into it. So, it has been a very positive thing. I still feel like I have a little ways to go before the postseason races, which is good. Other years, I felt like I was ready for it in, say, late September, and that hasn't worked out well. So, I definitely feel like we have a little ways to go. We've only got six weeks left, which seems pretty crazy."
On his future plans ...
"I'm going to go home. I'm from Chicago, and I'll probably get into currency trading back there. I'm actually a Psych major right now, but I got involved in a finance internship last summer in Chicago and really enjoyed it. It's different. You work in a big office, but you are essentially your own trader. You're backed financially by someone or a company. So, I think I am going to do something like that after this year. "
