Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?
A: Definitely qualifying for state as a team in cross country for the first time in forever my senior year. The district race seemed to unfold perfectly. Most everyone ran massive PR's, myself 16 seconds, and it happened almost like the state meet in the Disney movie McFarland USA. Our 5th runner Margaret Caldwell had a massive two minute time drop and was one of the big factors of us making it. Everyone did what they needed to do and it was truly an incredible team effort. Everyone was in sync.
Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
A:Without a doubt myself. I wasn't always the fastest runner so the mental part of racing was always where I'd either perform at my capabilities or be lacking. As for other people, Anna Burson , Andrea Gray, and Allie Pell all helped me by letting me chase after them for several years.
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
A: Overcoming the adversities we as a team had faced my senior year. I wasn't able to do as much training over the summer as I had liked, and we had numerous injuries along the way. But we pulled it together and qualified as a team, and I made my highest finish at districts, with a 5th place.
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
A: I would listen to my coach more, stop worrying so much about every single little detail about every single moment of every run. Maybe just loosen up more, and enjoy the rest days instead of complaining about not getting to run. Also, become friends with my teammates sooner than it happened. I wish I would have had the extra minutes with them.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: Sophomore year by a landslide. We lost a teammate to a car accident, her name was Christina Harter. She was such an incredible person and that season was truly dedicated to her. You could tell that everyone was asking themselves the question of, "Why do we get to run when Christina can't anymore?" However, everyone was injured that season. I had torn the growth plate in my right hip and severally sprained both hip flexors, so I was out for several months with no running or cross training. I decided to run districts that year for Christina, and ended up with an awful time, but the race was truly dedicated to her. Her death was by far the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. She was an incredible person and inspiration.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: The memories, the countless hours of running with the some of the people that I care about the most. I'll miss the camaraderie and all the little inside jokes. I'll miss my coaches, who were like a second set of parents for me. I'll miss the underclassmen who I grew to love so much. I'll just miss the atmosphere and everything about cross country.
Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?
A: Don't worry to much about every detail. Everyone has bad days where they can't hit the times the coach says. Don't worry, it's not the end of the world if you miss one day of practice. Just work your hardest, listen to your coach, love your teammates, and most importantly have fun.
Q: What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
A: My coaches have had an incredible impact on me. Mr and Mrs Boyer were who truly helped me develop my love for running and I am eternally grateful for them. They knew how to handle me when I got stressed out before races, and they were like parents to me the entire 6 years I've been with them. They are the most amazing people the world, and I owe everything I've accomplished to them. They are the reason I am where I am today.
Q: What are your college plans?
A: I will be attending the University of Central Arkansas where I'll be running cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, and I'll be studying both environmental chemistry and environmental biology. The goal is to get a masters in atmospheric and climate science and become a researcher for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or someother organization. My other potential career path is becoming an environmental lawyer.
Q: Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
A: The other incredible teammates I've had. Allie Pell, Hope Strausbaugh, Hailey Souter, Lilli and Margaret Caldwell, Faith Stark, and every other person I've ever ran with. I truly loved seeing everyone accomplish their goals along with me and I loved running with such an incredible team. I also would like to thank my parents, grandparents, and Mr and Mrs Harter who's continual support is something I will never take for granted.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A: I've been truly blessed with incredible teammates. I wouldn't be anywhere if it wasn't for them.
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
A: Two things.
1. For some reason sophomore year before I was injured we found a perfectly dead squirrel on the side of the road, so we ran to the elementary, played on the play ground, and got a Walmart plastic bag to pick the squirrel up with. I had to carry the squirrel for like 3 miles to bring back to our coach. He thought it was hilarious. We did the same thing this past year for my senior year. And for our going away present we got our coach a taxidermy squirrel so he'd never forget us. It's in his office so the kids who come in get constantly terrified.
2. My freshman year I got lost the first day of practice and I ended up running like 4 miles over what we were supposed to as I was trying to find my way back to the school. It was pouring down rain the entire time and I wasn't honestly sure what to do. It never occurred to me to stop and ask for directions I just kept on running. Finally "Jesus take the wheel" came into my head for some reason and I finally found the way back to the school. It was something I've never been able to live down since.