Salute to Seniors: E. Smith, L. Bensky, & K. Norton

My most memorable race was my first race back from an ankle injury. Not because of a good performance but because of a very poor performance. This race challenged me and made me realize I couldn't just gain everything I had lost, I had to work for it.

What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?

There were many moments where I was laughing until I couldn't breathe. But one thing was every year we would make a team shirt that had a picture of our coach on the back and a quote that they had said on the front. It was so fun when the whole team wore the shirts to practice and we got to see our coaches reaction. 

Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

My biggest competition or competitor over my four years of running was myself. Every day you have to show up and compete against yourself, if you are not having a good day you have to put that aside and give it your all every practice, race, and offseason. 

What was your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment was earning all state in the 4x8 my junior year. We broke the school record for a second time and got 6th in class 5. Another accomplishment was placing 3rd as a team in class 5 my senior year. 

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

If I could do it all over again I would have started hurdling freshman year. I started the 300 hurdles my senior year and I really enjoyed it and wished I would have started it earlier. 

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

My sophomore year I broke my ankle playing volleyball and was out for up to 5 months. 5 months of not being able to workout can really put a damper on your cardio. Another very big obstacle was losing one of my biggest supporters junior year. Even though these were really tough obstacles, they made me a better person and made me work harder to earn everything I have earned. 

What will you miss the most?

I will miss my teammates the most. They say running is an individual sport, but you need teammates to pick you up on your worst days. Every day we came in and worked incredibly hard and had fun while doing it. My teammates really were my best friends. 

What advice would you give to younger athletes?

To show up everyday and give it your all. You will only be as good as you allow yourself to be. I also encourage them to create strong bonds with everyone on your team. 

What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?

My coach has impacted my life so much. Coach Brewer (head girls track coach) shows up everyday ready to make us the best we can be. You never know how much a coach does outside practice time for their team. Coach Brewer spent countless hours outside practice and I don't think he ever got the appreciation he deserved. He was an amazing coach and I will miss his sarcastic humor!    

What are your college plans?

I plan to attend University of Central Missouri to pursue a career in nursing. 

Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?

I would like to say thank you to my family for all the hours they spent driving or picking me up from practice or meets. I want to thank my teammates for making me a better person and for all the laughs and memories. I want to thank my coaches for all the hours spent making us the best we could be. Lastly, I would like to thank Greg Barber for being one of my greatest supporters, for always hugging me after my races and encouraging me no matter the outcome. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Figure out why you decided to do this sport and then give it everything you got to be the best you can be. Encourager or competitor, everyone is vital in making a team great.