Villanova Wildcat sophomore Bogdana Mimic, a Serbian native, took 67^th last year individually at the NCAA Cross Country Championships as her team took sixth. She ran 20 minutes, 57 seconds over the 6,000-meter course. Bodgana hooked us up with her answers via email (from Serbia). Check it out and follow closely on Flotrack this cross country season to see how she and her teammates do.

How was your 2008-2009 season?

2008-2009 was my first season for Villanova. My cross country season went well, but I expected to do better on the NCAA meet. I was 68^th and I was hoping to be in the top 40. I guess I gave my best before that race. After the cross country season we started to prepare for indoors. I had a couple of really good workouts and had one race ( Penn State) in the 4 x 800 relay. In that relay I split 2:10, which was good for my first indoor race. After that I got injured (had stress fracture in my back) and had to take off six weeks. This was my first injury and it was really difficult to handle all that, just to think that I won't be able to run for six weeks was too much for me. I had to redshirt indoors and outdoors as well (we were thinking about running outdoors, but i didn't have enough time to prepare, I had already missed too much). I also decided not to run University Games and European Championship U23, so that I can have enough time to prepare for the upcoming cross country season.

What are your goals for the upcoming 2009 cross country season?

After the long break I'm really excited for upcoming cross country season. This year my main goal is to be top-40 in the NCAA meet. Last year our team was sixth and it was good experience. We had a young team. Most of us ran the NCAA Cross Country Meet for the first time, so I was surprised how good we ran as a team. I think our goal this year should be top-three.

What are you doing for running/training this summer?

This summer I basically just ran without workouts. I'm doing 50 miles a week, three times a week I have to run twice a day. I'm also doing a lot of exercises for my back including lots of core. My main goal this summer is to get stronger and to have enough miles of running.

Any races?

This summer I didn't have any races planned. As I said, I was hoping to run University Games in Serbia and the European Championships. I am hoping to run them in two years.

What are your non-running summer plans?

I didn't really have any special plans for this summer, I came back home to spend some time with my family and to see all my friends. I also went to Croatia for couple of days to relax and enjoy the beach. I spent lot of time with my sisters, one of them was running University Games 3,000m steeplechase, so I went to cheer for her and for Marina Muncan, my friend from the running club. The rest of the time I spent in reading the book in English, I thought this would be the best way not to forget English. Right now I'm watching the World Championship and preparing to come back in America.

What do you do for fun aside for running?

Aside for running I like to play tennis and volleyball when I'm not tired from running. Before I started to run, I played tennis for three years, and now I really enjoy playing and I also like to watch tennis on TV (I'm hoping to watch U.S. Open when I come back to America). I like to go shopping with my friends. In America whenever we have time we go to the mall or to the cinema. When I'm tired from running, I usually like to watch TV or to read a book. I really like to spend time with my friends, it's always lots of fun for me.

If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you have and who would make it?

If I could have one meal that would be shrimp with lots of vegetables and rice, prepared by my mother.

Can you explain your training a little bit?

My training in America is very similar to the one in Serbia. We have workouts twice a week. Tuesday we usually do mile repeats and Friday is always reserved for a tempo run. Saturday we have off. Sunday is a long run (10 miles). Other days are just 7-8 miles with a couple of strides and core.

Can you explain the running scene in Serbia as best you can?

Running in Serbia is not so developed as in America. People don't invest much in this sport. We have only five cities with running track, some cities even don't have any stadium. It is hard to stay in this sport, because you have to give a lot and you get little. In Serbia, most of the children do too much of running for their age, and they are good while they are young but when they become seniors they quit or just they don't run good as they used to. The other problem is that in Serbia you can't run while you are in college. College in Serbia demands lots of work and time, so you have to decide between running and college.

How hard is it to make an international team in Serbia?

I think that we don't have a lot of runners but there are couple of them who are really good. Usually all good athletes are middle distance runners, while short distances and field events are not so good (we don't have conditions for that). When I was younger it was easier to make national time, now I'm senior and standards are much higher, but I know if I give my best it shouldn't be difficult.

How did you find the University of Villanova in the first place?

I have to admit that at the beginning it wasn't easy. It was my first time in America and first time to be far from home for so long. I didn't know what to expect and was afraid how the team will accept me. After coupe of weeks I got used to everything. The team and the coaches were so nice and friendly. They all helped me a lot with school and running. One thing that I really like—and that was the reason because I came here—is that you can have time for running and for school ( back at home I couldn't leave running, but I also knew that school is very important). School is very good, I chose to study Chemical Engineering. When I came everybody told me that it will be to hard for me, they didn't believed that I can study Engineering with English as my second language. After first semester I knew that I can do that and that it is what I want.

What are some things that you like about training in the U.S.?

One of the things that I like about training in the U.S. is running with the team. It makes running so much easier and interesting. In Serbia I used to do most of my runs alone. Training is not so intense, there are days when its hard but when we have easy runs I try to relax and go easy. There are so many nice places to run. We usually go to Valley Forge and Valley Green. It's never boring. I can say that there isn't anything that I don't like about training in the U.S. I'm really enjoying (it).

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

The hardest workout I have ever done is four by 1,000m uphill. It was winter and very cold. I don't like hills. Where I live it's all flat.

Can you give me a crazy running-related story?

Last year while running in Valley Green I almost stepped on a snake. It was scary and I was screaming. After that I has shaking the whole run. From now on I'm trying to be very careful and to watch where I'm stepping.