Why Kreis was selected: The Knights junior claimed top honors in this weekend's Distance Night in Palatine with a 9:02.47 performance. That's now the best time in Illinois after he finished :0.07 seconds better than Hersey's Josh Mether. He also was an athlete of the week in the fall while competing in cross country.

Herald-News sports writer Curt Herron talked with Kreis.

Herron: What do you like the most about competing in track and field?

Kreis: The atmosphere and once you finish it's a big relief since it's pretty strenuous during the race.

Herron: What do you like the most about competing for Lincoln-Way Central?

Kreis: I like it a lot because we have a lot of good guys and we all work together as a team to try to push each other and try to get better and everyone encourages each other.

Herron: How did your cross-country season influence your track season?

Kreis: I had a pretty solid cross country season that didn't end the way I wanted. But it kind of me some motivation in the offseason to take it more seriously.

Herron: What do you want to do in the future?

Kreis: I'm starting to look at some colleges but I didn't about running competitively until last season. It was always in the back of my mind, but now I'm pretty confident that I want to.

Herron: Who's your favorite sports team and athlete?

Kreis: The Cubs. And Michael Jordan.

Herron: Do you have a favorite movie?

Kreis: Unbroken

Herron: Do you like music?

Kreis: I like today's hits.

Herron: Do you have any pets?

Kreis: I have a cat that's named Max.

Herron: What would like to go into educationally?

Kreis: I'd like to go into Bio Medical Engineering.

Herron: Who's someone that you'd like to meet?

Kreis: Probably Bill Gates.

Herron: Where is the favorite place that you've been and where would like to go?

Kreis: Probably the Great Smoky Mountains. Maybe Paris or London.