Name: Gracyn Pietrusinski
School: Wentzville Holt High School
Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?
A: My training looks the same. The only difference is that I am not able to train with my teammates.
Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than running right now?
A: I am staying busy completing schoolwork, painting, reading, and catching up on my favorite shows.
Q: What was your most memorable race/ moment?
A: My most memorable moment was racing side by side with my teammate Emily Griesenauer in the 2 mile during my sophomore year of track.
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
A: The funniest thing that happened during my running career was when my teammates presented me with the "Most likely to wear sunscreen in the dark" award at our cross country banquet this year.
Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
A: My teammate Emily Griesenauer, who graduated two years ago, really took me under her wing and pushed me to keep up with her. After Emily graduated Sarah Russom from Francis Howell High School became a great competitor, as well as a good friend, who continues to challenge my abilities and push me as an athlete.
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
A: My greatest accomplishment was earning 4th place in the Class 5 3200m race at the 2019 Track and Field Championships.
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
A: I wish I would have had more confidence in my running abilities in my freshman and sophomore years.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: It was difficult to balance the expectations of my coaches with a high level of academic demands that my classes required (i.e. attending conferences and such).
Q: What will you miss most?
A: I will miss getting to run with my sister who is a freshman on the team this year.
Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?
A: I would tell younger athletes to believe in themselves. Self-doubt can be the biggest obstacle in realizing potential. Set realistic goals and be confident in achieving them.
Q: What kind of impact has your coach had on you and your team?
A: My coach has encouraged our team to always put forth our best effort.
Q: What are your college plans?
A: I will be continuing my running career at the University of Missouri: Kansas City. I will be an honors student majoring in Biology with a pre-med focus.
Q: Who would you like to say thank you to?
A: I would like to say thank you to Coach Guemmer, Coach Kinnary, Mark Spewak, my family, friends, teammates and all who have helped me to become the runner I am today.