Nov. 7, 2007

Mouhamed Halwani
Men's Cross Country

On Saturday, October 26, Wagner cross-country student-athlete Mouhamed Halwani came in fourth place at the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships, capping an incredible month of October which included his selection as the Countrywide Wagner Student-Athlete of the Month. On top of his 2007 All-NEC Team honor he received at the NEC Meet, Halwani nabbed NEC Cross-Country Athlete of the Week awards twice in October for his performances at the Central Connecticut State Mini-Meet and Albany Invitational. We sat down with "Mo," a senior from Staten Island:

Q: "What were your expectations this year as you entered your final Cross-Country season with Wagner?"

A: "I was coming off of a rough year after dealing with an injury most of last season, so I really wanted to make up for that. I was also faced with the challenge of being named team captain, which was something that I knew would require a whole new level of dedication. We returned a strong team and coach (Joe) Stasi did a fantastic recruiting job, bringing in a strong group of freshmen so I really wanted to do my best in leading the team."

Q: "You were only three seconds off the second place finisher at the NEC Championships. What was the toe-to-toe battle with the second and third place runners like?"

A: "My main focus during the race was to stay in contact with the front. I was sitting in the back of the front pack for most of the race but when I came around for the last mile coach Stasi told me how close everyone was so I decided to go for it and move up. I gave it my best to hold the guys off behind me, but there was nothing more I could do. I gave it all that I had and in the end that is all you can really ask for."

Q: "What was your favorite course/race to run this year?"

A: "My favorite race this year was the Albany Invite. The whole team ran their best times for the 8K and we also beat a lot of teams who were favored over us. But my favorite course has to be the CCSU 5K and 8K course. I have always managed to run well there."

Q: "What was your least favorite?"

A: "The Monmouth Invite. It was the first race of the year and I didn't run close to what I am capable of running."

Q: "What does a normal pre-race warm up consist of?"

A: "I start off by fooling around as much as possible before a race, just to make everyone relax and to aggravate coach (Stasi) a little. Then I will eat a pack of M&Ms and go for a two-mile warm up followed by various stretches, drills, strides, more fooling around and then a prayer."

Q: "You always have your iPod on before a race. What is your favorite type of music to listen to when getting ready?"

A: "Before a race I listen to a mix I have had since high school which consists of various songs mostly by Linkin Park, Evanescence along with other various things like the theme songs from all six Rocky films and the Karate Kid trilogy. The song I have to listen to before a race though is Numb Encore by Linkin Park and Jay-Z."

Q: "What are your plans after the cross country? Does it cool down before indoor starts or are you basically jumping right into it?"

A: "There are still two meets left in cross country and I feel like I can really run well at both. When indoor starts, I am going to go right into it. It is my favorite season and I have a lot to accomplish."

Q: "What are your plans after graduating in the spring?"

A: "I hope to be attending med school, or go for my masters or maybe even my PHD. I am currently studying Microbiology so I'll just wait and see where that takes me."