Running With Cross Country

Oct. 22, 2010

Throughout the 2010 season, SoonerSports.com will sit down with members of the OU cross country program to provide insight into practice, competition and a few fun facts you should know about each team member. This week we sat down with sophomore Bill Kogel.

What did it mean for the team to win Pre-Nationals?
“It was huge. I don't think any of us have won a meet since we've been here, so obviously we've been trying to improve. Going in it was in the back of our minds that maybe we could win it, but at the end of it when we actually won were like 'wow', this is really cool this, is a good feeling. At the same time it definitely motivates us a lot because even though we won our race there is still a lot of stuff out there that saying that some teams we beat are better than us. We are still super motivated to prove everybody wrong and show we belong up top.”

How do you take the momentum from the win at Pre-Nationals into the Big 12 Championships?
“It's good because it gives us so much confidence at running, you know you are running well and you're obviously in good shape because we ran at a high level. At the same time you have to put Pre-Nationals in the back of your mind and store it away because you don't want to go into the Big 12 Championships thinking you're the man and it's going to be easy because Oklahoma State is unbelievable talented and Colorado is a very, very good team. They aren't just going to back down and let us beat them. It's going to be a good fight.”

How does it feel to be ranked No. 5 in the nation?
“It feels pretty cool. When me and my roommate Kevin Williams found out we were like 'we're the No. 5 team in the nation.' It's kind of surreal. I don't know if we fully understand what it means to be ranked No. 5. I think we still have a chip on our shoulder that we are trying to prove to everybody that we belong in the top tier of teams. It's really cool to be ranked that high, but we are still trying to prove ourselves.”

How far have you come individually from last season?
“It's hard to tell so far. We haven't run any of the same races or courses from last season. I think I'm in a lot better shape because I have another year of training under me. Last season was a huge success for me and this year I'm just hoping that maybe I can equal that. When the Big 12 Championships comes around I hope to be top 15, top 10 like I was last year.”

What is your favorite thing about the team?
“My favorite thing about the team has to be how we are legitimately best friends and it's not an act, it's not us faking it. It's the reason I came here. We'd do anything for each other. It's just a brotherly love we have.”

10 things you should know about Bill Kogel
1) His pre-race ritual is to watch A Walk to Remember with teammate Kevin Williams.
2) His favorite video game is Call of Duty.
3) His favorite sports team is any team that is playing the St. Louis Cardinals.
4) His nickname is KB.
5) His favorite late night snack is a Reese's Blast from Sonic.
6) His favorite thing about his home state of South Dakota is the cold winters.
7) His favorite restaurant in Norman is BJ's.
8) His dream job is to be an anesthesiologist.
9) His role model is his high school mentor Jeff Lukens.
10) His favorite movie is Fight Club.

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