Hometown: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Major: Mathematics
Sports: Cross-country and track
Accolades: Fifth-place finish in the November 2015 Division III cross-country championships (fourth place in 2014); MIAC champion in steeplechase 2013, 2014, and 2015
Biggest surprise: “In my wildest dreams I never imagined my body was capable of running as fast as I’m running now. I always believed I could improve, but there was a shift where Coach Donna Ricks’s training really set in and it felt like, ‘What? I can run this fast? Since when?’ ”
The team’s greatest strength: “You can’t make somebody have passion, but when you’re around passionate people, it’s like having a bunch of coals that all keep each other lit. My teammates are passionate because we all love what we do. We burn so much brighter when we’re together.”
Challenges: “When I’m having trouble running, it’s usually connected to everything else that’s going on in my life. I can’t just say, ‘I’m just going to try harder,’ because that’s not the answer. I’ve learned to release myself—not necessarily to work harder, but to take small steps and trust that things will cycle. Remembering my priorities and not overworking have been the hardest parts, not just of running, but also of life at Carleton.”
Secret to success: “Do what’s right for you and your body. If people are successful, you might think ‘I have to do what they’re doing,’ but that doesn’t work for me. I have a different strategy and a different way of training. It’s important to have confidence that this is what my body needs today, even if it needs to recover.”
Life lesson: “People at Carleton have called me to do things I never believed I could do. With their encouragement, I’ve taken the steps that have allowed me to go to nationals in cross-country, or to lead worship at Mustard Seed [a Christian musical group], and I’ve built great relationships through my involvement with these groups.”