Crombie looks to help lead Providence to a Big East title (Tim O'Dowd/Irishrunner.com)

1. With the Big East, Regional and NCAA Championships about to approach, how do you and the rest of your teammates feel heading into the final weeks of the season?

We are feeling confident, however we know that we are only part way through the season and alot can still change. The Big East Champs are going to tell us alot about where we are, as there is going to be tough competition with the likes of Notre Dame and Georgetown present. Once Big Easts are over we will be able to get a better feel for what the final weeks of the season should offer if we continue to progress as we have been.

2. As a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, how has your experience been so far on American soil and at Providence?

Since arriving in January my experiences have been really positive. Providence College really welcomed me. Ray Tracey has really developed me as a runner. I think this cross country season is should be strong and really build up a good base for the track season. My experience with the american running system have been really encouraging, and I am very optimistic about my college time. Ray has really helped me here, as I was having iron problems 2 months into coming over here, and not racing well but feeling continually fatigued and exhausted after racing. My greatest concern was that he would just want to race me no matter what, however the opposite resulted, he really adapted to me, changing my runs so I would still be hitting the normal amount of mileage but in a way that I would not feel the fatigue associated with it.

3. After an impressive freshman season in 2003, how much are you looking forward to the indoor and outdoor track seasons coming up?

Definitely looking to improve. I didn't race as well as expected, i was hoping for some better times outdoor. So I am extremely eager to get back out onto the track and prove to myself that I can do better.

4. One of your victories last season came by winning the mile run at the ECAC Championships. With your wide range of events, what will you be focusing on the most in 2004?

I am looking at the 1500 meters outdoors and mile indoors, however I know that there will be a first time 3000 meter steeplechase thrown into the mix as well.

5. Is the steeplechase an event that you think you will give a try in the near future?

Head coach Ray Treacy and I have considered this for next track and field season. At the moment we are just focusing on cross country. However, I am sure that a time will come this track season where I will try it and see how I feel about it. It is an option that Ray sees potential in for myself, and would like to try out.

6. What is the general training like at Providence during the cross country season and how much has head coach Ray Treacy helped you along the way?

The training is very similar to at home with the big difference being morning runs. Usually have 3 or 4 morning runs of 3 miles followed in the afternoon with 7 miles. The workouts are one of the more enjoyable parts of training. We usually have at least a group of 10 to do workouts with, so you can generally always find someone going the same speed as yourself to motivate you and push you to work that bit harder. We also have some top runners that were previously at Providence College who are looking at qualifying for the Olympics who often complete workouts with the team. So we are continually seeing what improvement is needed if we have the desire to take our running further -- to the Olympics.

7. With the winter months quickly approaching, did you experience much of the same weather in New Zealand and how much does it affect your training?

I went home for five weeks during the summer break, which meant I was heading back to winter, which has helped in the adjustment to the weather, however it also means that I haven't really experienced summer. The winters are harsher having to run in snow every so often, but I think it just makes you that much tougher.

8. Who are some of the runners you look up to and what have you learned from them as a student-athlete today?

I don't have one person that I look up to, however, we have a lot of top athletes training around us continually such as Amy Rudolph, Roisin McGettigen, Marie McMahon, and Sarah Dupre. Continually seeing the way they train day in, day out teaches you a lot in your endeavor to achieve the perfect run.

9. What has been some of the more memorable experiences so far for you at Providence?

Going to indoor nationals and a race in North Carolina was definitely the highlight. It was my first outdoor race, around 25 people stepped onto the starting line for just one of two heats for the 1500 meters. I had never seen, let alone experienced anything like it before, the immense competition and enthusiasm to race was a unbelievable.

11. Have you noticed a big difference in your training methods in college compared to your time in high school?

Yes, I never really ventured into double running in a day. Instead, I would just do a longer run -- so instead of 3 miles and 7 miles -- I would just run for 1 hour 20 minutes. Training was completed entirely on my own and racing against men was not unexpected.