Felnagle is the NCAA defending champion in the 1,500 meters (Jeff Camarati)

1. Congratulations on your 3,000 meter performance this past weekend in New York. Not only was it an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 9:09.57, but it was your first race of the season. What were your expectations heading into the race and how did it feel to come away with such a great time for your first race?

I was very excited about starting to race again. I was a little nervous because I had not raced since November (the end of cross) and didn't know exactly what kind of shape I was in. But training had been going well. My goal was to hit the auto time and hopefully PR. Since I accomplished both I was happy!

2. Is running under 9 minutes for the indoor circuit a goal of yours? What are some of your ultimate goals in the 3,000?

I would love to run under 9 minutes or at least bring my time down by the end of the season. At this point my coach and I are undecided on what event I will be focusing primarily on, but if it is the 3k I do hope to break 9. If I am not ready to this year then that will definitely be an eventual goal.

3. Anchoring the DMR to the national title last year must have been a tremendous highlight for you. When will your squad open up and try to get the NCAA qualifier in?

The DMR has been one of my favorite college running experiences. I love the team aspect and excitement of a relay. Last year's race was awesome because we were defending our title from the year before. That added pressure made it all the more rewarding. Also we were returning 3 out of the 4 same girls, which was special. This year we graduated 2 of our team members, but we have some great new freshman and will probably try to qualify at the Notre Dame last chance meet.

4. Looking ahead to the outdoor season, the 1,500 meters seems to be your premier event as the defending national champion. With such a range between the 800 and the 3,000, do you feel as though the 1,500 meters is the perfect race for you?

Yes I do. I enjoy running everything from the 800 to cross country for variety and strength vs speed training. But I believe the 1500 to be my most natural event, the one I am most confident in, and the one I like the most.

5. What will your training be like with the ACC Championship meet just a few weeks away? Will you begin to incorporate more speed work into your base?

I will be incorporating some speed work as ACC's approaches because I will be doubling in the 800 and mile. However, the main focus of my indoor training is on building strength. I hope to continue racing strong into the summer so I need to get as strong as possible early on to make that happen.

6. You've come a long way to North Carolina as you're originally from Tacoma, Washington. How often do your friends and family get to watch you compete?

Being so far away has been hard at times. Sometimes I wish I had the option to easily get home if I wanted it. However, my family and friends have been so so supportive. My parents make it out to 5 or 6 of my races a year and even though we are 3 hours ahead I talk to my family and friends from home every day. I still feel just as connected to them as the day I left.

7. What was the turning point for you in your collegiate career when you realized that you can compete with the best on any day?

I think building my confidence has been a process that has developed over the course of my whole running career. I didn't get really serious about running until my senior year of high school, so coming in as a freshman I still felt somewhat new to the sport. Over time I have come to hold myself to higher and higher standards. I still am unsure of what I am capable of but it is my ultimate goal to reach my highest potential.

8. The U.S. Olympic Trials are this season as you've already eclipsed the "A" standard of 4:10.00 in the 1,500 meters. How efficient will your training have to be considering you'll also have to peak for the NCAA Championships just a few weeks earlier? Have you had any difficulty in the past trying to adjust to such schedules?

Balancing the peak between the trials and NCAA's has been a major concern of mine for my training this season. My coach and I have talked extensively about it and it is something we are trying to be very careful about getting right. Last year I was peaked almost totally for NCAA's and did not have much left to give at USA's. That was ok last year because I was young and my focus was NCAA's, but it is not something I want to happen this year. That's a big reason I am focusing on strength work right now.

9. What kinds of activities do you enjoy when you're away from the track? How do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy doing lots of things as long as I am with my friends and family. That's when I am the happiest. I love being outside and playing other sports such as tennis or basketball. I also like movies and getting tons of sleep!

10. The North Carolina area seems to be an ideal place to train for the middle distance events. It's not too hot like the deep south, but not too cold like the midwest. Do you find this weather beneficial to you and your teammates when training outdoors?

I absolutely love North Carolina. It is beautiful and the climate is perfect for running. It's not too cold in the winter and the spring and fall are great. The summer gets a little hot (especially compared to Washington) but we just train in the morning or evenings on the bad days.

11. You've got a lot of people who look up to you, especially at the high school level. Who are some of the runners you've found to be helpful to you and have learned from the most?

I think I have learned the most from my coaches and my teammates. I have had great relationships with both my high school and college coaches and am so grateful for them. They have taught me so much and been great role models to look up to. Also, I have some teammates that are extremely hard workers and seeing them and how they do things motivates me to follow their lead.