School: Vestavia Hills High School
What was your most memorable meet?
My favorite meet was the Crimson Classic of 2013 where we beat Hoover by a hair even though Mac Macoy was still injured. Coach Huber and Coach Jennings brought just 10 people and on the way there we listened to “Holy Grail” by Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake and I got super revved up. I ran one of my best times of the season and got a medal after having iron-deficient anemia for over a year.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
Definitely at the 2013 cross country state championships. Every team really came out to compete and definitely gave everything they had that day. I felt awful during the race so it only made it harder, but as a team we still did really well. We did the best we could do, but we couldn’t hold off Auburn’s powerful team that year.
Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
My greatest high school accomplishment was when I broke five minutes in the mile my sophomore year. I remember coming across the line at the Crossplex and just shouting for joy. I had worked so hard to get to that point and it finally paid off.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
My junior year, I came in to the cross country season with strong, consistent training and looked forward to really doing well. Unfortunately, my times continued to get slower and no matter how hard I tried, I always did terrible, running times I hadn’t run since middle school. I became unhealthily skinny and didn’t break five minutes in the mile once the entire year. I was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia as a senior, took iron supplements, changed my diet and mindset, and God finally answered my prayers, helping me PR at almost every race.
What will you miss the most?
As nervous as I get before races, I will miss the thrill and adrenaline of the starting line. I will also miss training side-by-side with my peers (whatever the weather), getting a PR at a race, and the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction after a hard-fought race. Nothing compares to the feeling of attainment after months – or even years – of hard .
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Be consistent with your training in middle school, and don’t be afraid to do a bunch of activities at once as long as you know you have time. I didn’t start track until the spring of my eighth grade year, and I didn’t do cross country in 9th grade, and I ALWAYS regret it. Always remember to listen to your body especially when you’re stuck in a rut, and remember that diet is key for ultimate performance.
What are your post-high school or college plans?
I am going to Auburn University and will study chemical engineering. I want to work as a researcher for Waste Management and take bigger strides towards making the world a more sustainable place to live.
Who would you like to say thank-you to?
I would like to say thank-you to my parents for helping me keep my head up even when my times were terrible as well as to my coaches for not giving up on me and doing their best to help me reach my potential. I would also like to thank Kevin Drake at Drake Fitness for helping me drop 20 seconds on my mile time in a span of less than two months.