1. What does it mean to be CCIW runner of the week for the third time?
“It’s an accomplishment and I think I put in a lot of hard work. It is reassuring to know that every single minute and every single hour I spend thinking about it and working towards my goals, it is worth the time I put in.”
2. What are and have been your personal goals for this season?
“Individually, I obviously want to get faster. The biggest goal I have though is to stay injury-free because I can’t run well if I am injured and, of course, to have fun. Always enjoy the sport.”
3. How about a goal that you have for your team?
“Teamwise, we want to place at conference. We are definitely doing better than past seasons and are building back up. We have been placing better at each meet and catching up to North Central which is always nice. Also, packing up more as a team. I think we are doing that really well in practice which translates into meets.”
4. How are you preparing yourself for the CCIW conference meet?
“I am trying to keep calm because I tend to get nervous. But I think about all the work I have put in. I will go to the trainers if I need to and definitely find something I can root in so when I am racing, it will help me get through and push me through the race.”
5. What does Augie Cross Country mean to you?
“We are family. We build relationships and there are so many team members so you get to know a lot of people. Also, hard work. Each and every person puts in so much hard work.”
6. When did you start running cross country and how did you get hooked on running?
“I started running my freshman year in high school. I did it mostly so I can stay in shape for soccer, but then the coach had a really big influence on me and encouraged me to keep running.”
7. What do you love most about Augie Cross Country?
“I love the challenge and to be challenged. It pushes my limits a lot and I think that is good because it builds character. It makes me a better person on the course and off the course.”
8. What do you love most about Augustana and why did you pick here?
“Obviously, the campus is beautiful. But, I love the different experiences that I have gotten from so many people and classes. I chose Augie for that reason. My dad also went here, so that made a big impact. They also have really good cafeteria food.”
9. Were there any low points or negatives this season? If so, how did you manage to overcome them?
“I think every year is difficult when you first start because there is a new class of girls not just on our team, but on other [schools’] teams. So, you don’t know what anyone is capable of and everyone comes in with a new strategy. I just stay confident in my training and the person that I have become through running. I just always stress to have fun because if I am not having fun, then why am I doing it?”
10. If you could give advice to the younger runners or future Viking runners what would it be?
“Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself because that will make you stronger. Also, just because something bad happens doesn’t mean you are not capable of pushing through and overcoming it. Have fun and learn from every experience.”
11. What else are you involved in here at Augie?
“I am involved in Pre-Soma, which is a medical club. I am a peer mentor and I work up in PepsiCo.”
12. What are you most focused on for finishing the season out strong?
“My long term goal would be nationals. I have been working towards that for so long. There has been so many ups and downs, but I just want it so bad this year that I’m so focused just getting there.”
13. What is your favorite thing about your coaches?
“They are goofy, so they don’t make coming to practice super tedious. All three of our cross country coaches are different in so many ways, but that’s awesome because you get a variety of different training styles and opinions. They make me laugh a lot, which I think is very cool.”
14. You have been one of the top runners in each race, how have you managed to be so persistent?
“I am very goal driven and a determined person. I think it is because I am willing to put in the hard and extra work. I don’t want to impress people, I just do it for myself and the team.”
15. How much of a shot do you and your team have for regionals and the CCIW Championship and why?
“We have a really good shot of getting top seven and perform very well at conference. I am very confident in them. We will always work hard to accomplish the long term goal of Nationals.”
16. What do you like most about your team?
“We are a smaller team than previous years, so we have gotten the chance to get to know each other a lot better. The fun atmosphere is what I love most.”