Hornabrook has been looking back upon his competition many times this season (Mike Leary)

1. What transitions have you had going from Rend Lake to Florida State University?

I was the top guy at Rend Lake, but now I’m battling with Joep (Tigchelaar), Kevin (Cook), and the rest of our pack. I’m pushed on a daily basis around here. I appreciate what I have at Florida State after being a smaller, lower-budget program. I don’t take it for granted. The facilities, trails, and gear are amazing here.

2. How did you get into running in Australia?

I’ve been running since I was five. I had a coach early on who ran for Oregon. I started really training hard at 12 with our Little League Athletic programs. Then I realized I was a distance runner. Opportunities kept coming from there.

3. What have been the keys to your consistent improvement this season?

Coach Braman keeps us in good check and to be ready at the critical points in the season. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my career at the right time.

4. At the ACC Championships, you finished eighth and ran #2 for FSU. What did that performance mean to you?

It was definitely a breakthrough. I went into the race really relaxed. I just told myself I’m going to do this. I only have to run through 25 minutes of pain. I felt like I did when I was younger.

5. Heading into regional, FSU plans to be in for a good race with Georgia and Florida. How are you planning your race?

I’m going to try to go with the flow, but I’d like to stay with the guys I know I’m capable from running with. I’ll let them dictate the race. They know what they’re doing. This will be my first 10K, so I want to be under control in the mile and half. Then I want to really push it in the final 2K.

6. What motivates you to train?

I want to take every opportunity I have. I see my friends running stellar times and I want to match them. Four years seems like a long time, but it goes by so fast. I’m a junior and there are plenty of things I still want to accomplish. I haven’t achieved all of my goals, yet.

7. Almost thirty track athletes live in the Whitehall apartments and are right next door. What are the best and worst things about that situation?

It keeps me focused and I always have someone to run with. On the other hand, running isn’t my life and I’m interested in other stuff as well. I enjoy meeting other people that aren’t runners.

8. As an education major at FSU, what are some differences between education in the United State compared with Australia?

There’s no middle school in Australia. Sports seem to be a lot bigger, revolving around the schools a lot more here as well.

9. What training differences are there between US and Australia coaches?

I was able to compromise the coaches over there, but now I have to do whatever the coach says. I think it’s been good to toughen me up. There is definitely more of a team atmosphere here.

10. What are some of your non-running related interests?

Reading, music, socializing, and traveling.

11. Did you ever envision that you get to see so much of the world through running?

No, I thought I would just run in high school, but I got calls to run here in the United States. I’ve had the opportunity to run the World Junior Cross Country Championships in Belgium. I’ve been around to many other countries through running. Now in the U.S., I’ve had the chance to see tons of states through traveling to meets.