I got my start in track and field when I was 7 years old. I was playing soccer at the time and realized I enjoyed running up and down the field, so I googled “youth track teams in Parker, CO” and began practicing with the Parker Panthers not long after. That was hands down the most significant google search of my life!!
I’m glad you left it open to the top two because I would have a hard time narrowing it down! The first of the two was my freshman year. My high school team went to the Oregon Relays and we got to compete at Historic Hayward field. It was surreal to run on the same track as the best American track athletes. Not only that, but this meet was my first experience with the point scoring system. Suddenly, my races weren’t just about me and my times but about the points I could score for the team. That sense of comradery was unmatchable. The meet came down to the girls 4x400 (we just had to not get beat by a certain team to win the meet, if I remember correctly). Our 4x400 won, our team rushed the track, and we all celebrated!
My other favorite memory was the 4x400 at the State Championships my sophomore year. My sophomore year had started with an injury, so the final race of the high school season offered a chance to be thankful for my health and truly appreciate the success of the season. I had set four league records earlier that season and had already gotten a runner up (400m), third place (200m), and state record/title (4x200) at state. I distinctly remember the feeling as we got ready for the 4x400. Our team had already clinched the overall title, and now we just wanted to get to business. We were in pursuit of the 4x400 state record. I was the third leg, and by the time I handed off the baton and I looked at the clock, I knew we were going to get it. When our anchor leg crossed the finish line, we fell into a half-hug half-collapse together to celebrate our new state record. There was no better way to top off the state meet! I had no idea at the time that that race would be my last lap at Jeffco for a long time (thanks to covid). I just hope and pray we can get back on that track this spring!
My favorite subject in school is english! Specifically, I enjoy my AP Research class because I get to combine my passion for writing with my interest in sports. I am currently doing a correlational study between grit and athlete burnout at my school.
I am really into money management and entrepreneurship! I love researching the stock market and small businesses.
That’s tough because I have so many favorites!! One that consistently makes me excited to run is Chaser 150’s. To elaborate, one person starts about 5 seconds ahead of the other person, and the person in the back chases that person for 150 meters. I love it because it simulates the feeling of chasing someone down in a relay or making up the stagger in a 400 or 200. And at the end, you feel the full leg burn of a 400, so you know that you got a good workout in!
My favorite place to train is probably my high school track at Valor. I have such good memories there going all the way back to when I was in elementary school participating in their summer athletic camps. Not being able to be on campus during covid made me appreciate it even more!
Cheez-It’s are my favorite food!! They’re my go-to meet snack and have been for as long as I can remember!!
My favorite restaurant is currently Panera!! I LOVE carbs and can always find something there to hit the spot!
I love country music! I enjoy the story-telling aspect of it and how real all the artists are.
I don’t watch a ton of TV but I always enjoy a good season of Survivor!
I’m most active on Instagram!! I always seem to forget to snapchat people back… oops!!
I would have lunch with Michael Norman!! We are both from the same town in California, and I really admire how he has turned himself into a brand and been entrepreneurial through his talents on the track. Not to mention he’s a phenomenal 400m runner, so there’s a ton I can learn from! Specifically, I would ask about his training and nutrition.
I would love to have dinner with Kim Ng! She’s the first female GM in MLB and I admire her for that! I really want to go into the business side of sports as a future career, so learning from her would be a really valuable opportunity!
My role model is my grandpa! He has shown the blessings that come from hard work and generosity, and I aspire to be as successful and wise as he is.
My favorite athlete is Michael Norman.
My biggest hope for 2021 is actually getting a season! But if that were the case, I hope to earn some individual state CHSAA titles (I have only won relay and team titles before) and break into the 53 / 23 club in the 400 and 200! I would also love to lead my team to another state title!
If I could have taken official visits, my top 5 were Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and UPenn. I was looking for a school that pushed me both academically and athletically, but I also prioritized team culture and coach-athlete relationship. With the latter two criteria in mind, I was able to narrow it down to Stanford and Vanderbilt.
The biggest appeal that Stanford offered was the championship mentality. Coach Clark and Coach Coop were clear about their intentions of developing a well-rounded program that can compete at a high-level. I really wanted to be apart of that!! Also, all the coaches seemed to really have a passion for their athletes and seeing them improve both on and off the track. The opportunity to be surrounded by the excellence of Stanford, both in the classroom and in the athletics department, was a big difference maker for me as I aim to continuously grow as a person.
I am most likely going to major in communications! Ideally, I would want to study business, but Stanford does not have an undergraduate business major so I think communications is the best alternative for me!
In five years I hope to be enrolled in a graduate business school studying marketing, management, or maybe even sports entrepreneurship! In 10 years, I hope to have started a career in the business side of an MLB franchise. The San Diego Padres are my favorite team!