We're are going to kickoff our Salute to Seniors series with some athletes that are very dear to my heart. They are the graduating seniors from Francis Howell High School where I am their coach. I'm very proud of each of these kiddos, and I can't wait to watch them as they take their next steps in life.
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Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
A: If I could do it all over again I would be more confident. Sometimes not knowing your limits is a good thing, there isn't a spot to stop.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: My most difficult obstacle was my mindset. Before winter of my junior year I was the most negative person. I wanted to quit and didn't really care anymore. When my new coach took over I had to "climb stairs" to break my negative mindset. I showed up every day to training that winter and completely changed my mindset. The positivity tremendously changed my whole running career. It's all about what's in your head.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: I will miss my team the most. Every year it gets a little harder saying goodbye to the senior but this time it is me. I've seen many of these girls come in being clueless freshman to now strong runners. I'm going to miss them putting up with me being loud and telling stories 24/7.
Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?
A: To younger athletes,
Don't get too hung up on the bad races. Keep your head up because your confidence will show in your next races. Not every race can be your best because everyone goes through ups and downs. The trick is finding a love for it. You can't rely on your coach or your teammates to find your drive for the sport. Celebrate the small steps because they are all getting you closer to your goal. Keep your head up even when it seems like there isn't an end, I promise you there is an end and it comes sooner than you might think.
Don't get too hung up on the bad races. Keep your head up because your confidence will show in your next races. Not every race can be your best because everyone goes through ups and downs. The trick is finding a love for it. You can't rely on your coach or your teammates to find your drive for the sport. Celebrate the small steps because they are all getting you closer to your goal. Keep your head up even when it seems like there isn't an end, I promise you there is an end and it comes sooner than you might think.
Q: What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?
A:The impact that coaches have left on me and my team have been extremely out of the ordinary. Within my four years at Howell we had about 3-4 coaches. This definitely took a toll on the team, but it ended with an amazing coach. Coach Taylor took over in the middle of my junior year and had to learn along with everyone else. He spent countless hours learning and planning and in the end helped us accomplish so much. He helped dig me out of a huge pit and helped me accomplish many of my goals. The team as a whole has a way more positive and driven environment. A lot of change has happened over the past years but Coach Taylor changed everything for the positive.
Q: What are your college plans?
A: I plan to attend University of Memphis to further my academic and athletic career. I plan to major in social media marketing and compete on the cross country and track teams.
Q: Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
A: I would like to thank everyone who has gotten me here. It took many people and I'm sure I couldn't thank everyone in my short answer. I'd like to thank my parents for supporting not only me but my whole team. And I'd like to thank my teammates for all of the support. I'm sure no one else could put up with my stories as well as these girls have. And thank you to my coach (coach Taylor) for bringing me up from the bottom and also putting in many miles with me.