Auburn sophomore Hollie Knight, originally from England, was an All-American in the 5,000-meter distance last outdoor season. After finishing second in the Blue Race at Pre Nats and second at the SEC Meet, she's ready to threaten a top spot at the NCAA Championships.

What did you do at practice today?

Today was another steady run. We did eight miles. It wasn't too bad.

What kind of mileage do you usually do?

On the build up to racing season, I was probably at 75 miles a week. Now we're tapering for regionals and nationals and I'll drop back down to about 65.

Last year you got injured before the NCAA Cross Country Championships, how did that whole process go?

I was actually injured for most of the season. I had a lot of problems with my achilles. Being from England and only having concrete to run on, it was a lot different coming to Auburn and running on trails. That really messed up my achilles.

You ran through it a lot of the time?

Yeah. Yeah I did. I think it kind of progressed as the season went on. Yeah, I ran through it.

And you're 100% now?

I feel great. I haven't had any niggles or anything. So I hope everything goes to plan in the next couple of weeks.

How did you find Auburn in the first place?

I really wanted to come over here for university. So I looked on the internet and contacted the coach. He was pretty keen to get me over here for a visit. I came over and loved it. So I signed.

You mentioned that it's all concrete back home compared to trails in The States. What are some other differences between England and the United States?

In Alabama the weather makes a huge difference. It's pretty cold and wet in England right now, but here there's sunshine everyday and it doesn't dip below the 60s. Definitely the weather is a main difference. There's also a lot more support. I've found a slew of medical supplies here to get you through injuries.

What's it like over there to have the 2012 Olympic Games coming?

There's a big buzz really...in the athletic world. Coaches are already preparing their athletes for it because it's home ground. I think there's been a big push in the athletic world towards training for it I guess.

Is that your big goal, or are you not looking that far ahead?

I really just take each day as it comes. I'm looking forward to finishing this season then I'm looking to track. If the time comes around and I feel I'm fit enough, I definitely think it would be a good goal to have. But right now I'm just trying take on each season as it comes.

What are your individual goals this season?

I would definitely like to be an All American. I didn't run it last year, so I just want to go out and have a great race. I want to know that I've had a great race. That's all I'm really looking for.

What are your team goals?

It would great if the team managed to get there. We're looking for a good race for all of us at regionals. If we all have great races at regionals, then there's a chance we could go, but I think the team goal would just be to get to nationals really.

Who were your running heroes growing up?

I was really influenced by Paula Radcliffe. She digs down and finds everything she has in every race. She's been through so many tests and trials. And things like the Olympics, where a win has eluded her there. Every time she steps on the track or road, you know she's going to perform her best. I think that's amazing. Also I look up to Kelly Holmes a lot. She went through so many injuries and kept trying. Finally the Olympics came around and she went at the 15 and the eight. I guess it shows a lot of perseverance and that hard work will pay off.

Being such a Paula Radcliffe fan...does that mean we might see you in the marathon in the future?

I probably will get up there in the end. I think definitely longer distances my body type is more fit to. Maybe.

Do you catch a lot of the Auburn football games on campus?

Yeah. Yeah, I do! We've been to a couple of games and they're pretty exciting. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before.

A little different than the football back home?

Just a little bit. Just a little bit.

No David Beckham.

No. Just big American football players.

What about Ali G and Borat? How big are those characters in London?

He's (Sasha Baron Cohen) pretty big in England. Definitely Ali G. I don't know...do they have it over here? I haven't seen it on television at all.

Oh, yeah. You can catch it on the internet. YouTube certainly has clips.

Yeah, it's definitely pretty big.

Manners are considered to be top-notch in the United Kingdom and you went straight into Auburn's southern hospitality...is that a coincidence?

It's a coincidence. When I first came here for my visit, I was so shocked at how polite people actually were. There are so many little etiquettes that you would never know. Being called “mam” when you go out to eat in a restaurant...that was a shock, even coming from England.

What's the hardest workout you've ever done?

We do five by seven minutes pretty much flat out. I felt like vomiting in the end. It was pretty rough because we didn't run on the track, we ran on one of the trails we have...which is pretty hilly. It was a hard workout definitely.

Was it this season?

It was this season. Last season I wasn't able to do many of the workouts. I'd be racing then be back in the pool or the gym on the elliptical trainer.

Do you have other girls on the team who can push you in those workouts?

I actually run with one of the guys from the guy's team. We normally run as a group on our steady runs, but on our workouts...I run with a guy.

How did you get into this sport in the first place?

I was actually a swimmer to start with. One of the swimming coaches I used to swim with used to say, “why are you a swimmer? You look like a runner.” So I went to my local athletics club and started up when I was like nine years old. It just progressed from there.

What do you do when you're not at class or running?

We hang out a lot as a team. We have team dinners and team cookouts. We go to the cinema and go out to eat a lot. That's pretty much all there is to do in Auburn.

Can you give me a crazy running story?

This baby deer came hurdling down the hill at me, Laurel (Pritchard), and Amber (Riley) on our long run, head down trying to charge us. Luckily it didn't hit us and just kept running down the road.