In the Spotlight: Ben Flanagan
10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Junior co-captain Ben Flanagan has fond memories of the 2014 season, when he earned all-region honors in his first year as a team captain on his way to helping U-M to its best national finish since 2003. One year later, he and the rest of the eighth-ranked Wolverines are ready to return to the site of Flanagan's all-region finish: the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin. Nine of the top 15 teams in the country, including U-M, will run at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational this weekend. Flanagan stopped by to discuss memories from last year, the importance of this weekend's meet and more.
On the importance of getting an early look at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course this weekend ... "We always love going to Wisconsin. We spend a lot of time there between running at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational and having NCAA Regionals hosted there every year. The top seven guys in particular have seen it plenty, so this weekend is not too much about seeing the course because we have so much experience on it.
On what the bigger advantage will be in seeing the course early ... "I think what is really important is getting the experience in being in an elite race with that much depth. The only time you're going to get a race of this caliber is at nationals, so this weekend is unique. It's a really cool opportunity to see what it's like at this point in the season and it helps us make sure we're ready for it in November."
On debuting the varsity squad this weekend, with just seven in the college race ... "Ideally, it shouldn't make too much of a difference. We have Mason (Ferlic) to lead us up front and then we have five to seven number two guys who can be interchangeable parts on any given day. Whether we have seven on the line or nine on the line, it shouldn't make a huge difference because we've got the talent all the way through."
On any positive memories with the course after earning his first all-region honors a year ago ... "All-Region honors was fantastic last year, it was my first time running regionals. It was the first opportunity for me to win an honor like that, which was awesome. For me personally, that was where I really came into my own looking back at the last year. That was the first race I felt was indicative of my fitness, so yeah, there are positive memories going back to Wisconsin. It's a great race out there every year, so we're going to go out there and do our best, and see what happens."
• Previous Spotlight: Mason Ferlic
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
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