Posted 10/23/07
UW-Platteville’s Jason Garvens is a sophomore from Byron, Minn. He is an electrical engineer major and one of the top runners for the eighth-ranked Pioneer cross country team. The Pioneers will compete in the WIAC championships Saturday at UW-Oshkosh.
What made you decide to attend UW-Platteville?
"In high school, I knew engineering was a possibility and I wanted to continue running. I came for a visit, and I really liked it. This was the only school I applied to and the only school I visited. I am happy with my decision."
What was the biggest difference between high school and college running for you?
"The biggest difference for me was the amount of training needed to make that jump. During the summer between my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college I didn’t do near as much training as I should have (running 330 miles). My results showed that is not where I wanted to be. So this past summer I doubled my training and then some (running 750 miles). The results are showing and I am happy. I want to work even harder, and hopefully by junior or senior year, I can be an All-American."
At the beginning of this season did the light go on about the level you were at? How did that feel the first few times you went out?
"Yeah, this year at St. Olaf I had a personal record by 40 seconds at least, and I was very surprised about how the race went, how I felt, the level of intensity, and how I was the second guy on our team to finish. Last year I didn’t even make the conference squad. That was a big mental boost, just realizing that I can run with the top guys on the team, which I was striving to do last year. So, I was surprised somewhat, but not so in a way, because of all the training I was doing."
You have the conference race coming up Saturday. What are your goals for that? Where do you see the team?
"Our goal is to finish in the top two. La Crosse has been our main rival all year, and Stevens Point should be pretty tough. I believe that our team can get that second place, and possibly first if we all come together. I think our top five guys can finish in the top 20 in conference. My individual goal is to finish in the top 14, which would be second team all-conference, which I think is very do-able. Hopefully the pack of guys I am running with, Nick Fulton, Aaron Whalen, and Tony Kilburg, can be there right. Then we can clump together, and hopefully get second place as a team or possibly number one. That is what we are aiming for."
UWP is ranked eighth in the country. Do you get caught up looking at the polls?
"I do look at the rankings, and we look at the teams that we are racing. We sit down every week and write down goals of where we want to be. We also check out the results of other races, and how other teams did that we didn’t race. We compare times, so we do take a look at that pretty seriously, but we don’t get too wrapped up into if someone else does really well. It all comes down to that day when we are racing them."
How do you see the Pioneers finishing in the region and nation?
"I think we should qualify as a team for nationals, which has been our goal. That is expected. At nationals I am looking to place in the top 50 overall. The St. Olaf course is very familiar to me because I ran my high school state meet there. Most of the races I’ve ran there have been good, this year’s first race and then senior year (of high school), so I have good, positive vibes going about that course. I think that when we get there, I will be able to perform well. The top 50 would be great. I am not shooting for All-American this year but if the opportunity comes along I am not going to hold back."
Interview by Sports Information Director Paul Erickson