Samantha Ginther went to Indiana University this fall just hoping to make the varsity squad and get to travel with the Hoosier cross country team. Now, on Monday, she will be running in the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

The freshman from Carroll High School was an all-state cross country runner for the Chargers her sophomore season (fall 2006). Injuries slowed her junior season and as a senior (fall of'08) she collapsed just feet from the finish line at LaVern Gibson, of all courses.What was nearly a top-ten finish resulted in a 176th-place finish. Ginther talks about her high school career, first season with the Hoosiers, making the NCAA finals and, finally, running again at LaVern Gibson.


Question: You made the NCAA Championships as a freshman, in your home state no less. Is this a surprise?


Answer: Yes. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got here. I guess I was just hoping to make the team, you know, get to travel. It's been a great season.


Q: And now you're running in the NCAA Championships. And at LaVern Gibson. What do you think about going back there?


A: I actually like the course. I ran great there my sophomore year (toplace 18th). We ran there earlier this season at (Indiana) Intercollegiates. I just need to concentrate on my breathing and stay focused the entire race.


Q: You've been Indiana's No. 4 runner consistently all season. How have you adjusted so well?


A: I think running for Coach (Zach) Raber and Coach (Mike) Barnes did a great job of preparing me for this. I worked hard in high school but they didn't burn me out.


Q: So you worked hard in high school and you work hard now. What's the difference?


A: I run a lot more miles now. This summer I worked up to 55 miles a week and I've stayed at that level all season. Also, in high school we didn't race hard every single week. And in college we don't get to race every week either. The training isn't much different, but it is on a whole different level. It's so hard that you need to take breaks on the weekends and not race every week.


Q: You are teammates again with former high school teammate Chelsea Blanchard (Carroll Class of ‘08). How is that going?


A: Chelsea (IU's No. 3 runner) has been a lot of help. She has a little more experience here at IU and knows what to expect. It's good because she knows where we're coming from and how to handle certain things.


Q: What has the last week been like? I'm sure there has been a lot of excitement.


A: Yes, it's been a lot of fun. Everyone is really excited. Making the NCAAs has been our goal all year and we accomplished it.


Q: So, what's the goal for Monday? Top 20? Top half (16th)? Top 10?


A: We haven't really talked about goals yet (as of Thursday). We're just happy to be there. But, we want to run well.

Former Northrop state champion Bobby Moldovan will be running in his second NCAA Championship in two years for the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Moldovan, a red-shirt sophomore, is the Wolfpack's No. 3 man and made all-regional honors last week with a 15th-place finish at the Southeast Regional in Louisville. Moldovan helped North Carolina State to a 21st-place finish last year at the NCAA Championships.