- How did you get your start in track and field and/or cross country?
I got started in track and field/cross country in 4th grade when I decided to do elementary track which was one meet at the end of the school year. I had success when I ran the 800 and stayed with that event each year until 6th grade. My 6th grade year I had missed the meet record by a hundredth of a second and my high school coach, who also had a track club came up to me after the race and told me to come out for his club team. I decided to go out and do it to build more endurance for soccer, but then realized that was the sport I wanted to do so after 8th grade I quit soccer to focus on running and have been doing it ever since.
- Your parents' athletic background. Did they play any sports-where(HS, College, Pro), what position, when, any awards? Please include names.
My mom ran track and field in high school and college. She was a sprinter at Cal State Fullerton. In high school her team won a CIF title. My dad played basketball, tennis, and threw disc in track.
- Any siblings? Please include names and genders and any accomplishments in or out of sport.
I have 1 older brother named Tyler who will be attending Cal Poly Pomona this next year to play baseball
- Outside interests- your hobbies, talents(musical, chess, anything), volunteering- what do you do in your free time?
I like to go to the beach, hang out with friends, surf, draw/color, shop, and I volunteer in an Epilepsy Foundation
- At school, do you do any extracurricular activities? i.e. student government, clubs or other sports.
My schools' extracurricular activities are all after school at the same time as my practice so I am unable to participate in them but I help out in my class committee for rally's.
- Pre- and post- race rituals. Any superstitions?
Pre race I always wear a bun with pre wrap. It's been my hairstyle for races since my very first race in 4th grade. It's a little bit of a superstition but also just the hairstyle I've done from the start and haven't changed. Post race, the first thing we do when we leave the meet is find somewhere good to eat.
- Movie watcher and/or book reader? What is/are your favorite book and/or movie and why?
I love to watch movies but I don't think I can say I have a favorite. I just have a ton that I love to watch and have probably watched a hundred times.
- How do you deal with setbacks and triumphs?
I try to not let setbacks get into my head too much because if you think about it for too long, you won't be able to move past it and refocus for your next race or meet. There's always another race so those setbacks will ultimately help you learn more and allow you to apply what you learned from that race.
- Pet owner? If so, what is your pet's name and type/breed?
I have 1 dog named Titan and he is a Chiwawa and I have 1 cat named Boomer and he is an orange Tabbie.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years I see myself finishing up college and getting my degree/masters, continuing running and doing what I love, and hopefully looking into going pro for running after college.
- What words would you have for your sixth grade self?
For my 6th grade self, I would tell her to just enjoy the process and just enjoy what you love to do. Don't let the pressure of things that don't matter overtake your goals and take the fun out of the process. The process can be long so just enjoy the ride of it because just me it's one you will love.
- Who is your favorite track and field athlete and why? How about other sports-who is your favorite athlete and why?
This is a really hard question for me but I think I would have to say either Anna Hall or Elise Cranny not just because of the amazing athletes they are but the kind of people they are. Both women are super humble and just a nice person overall. They are both so strong and their stories and everything they have accomplished in life and their running careers have been so amazing to watch. Mallory Pugh is my favorite athlete outside of running because I have looked up to her for so many years now. When I was younger my soccer team and had gotten the opportunity to walk the US National team out onto the field. The player I got was Mallory Pugh. And just the person she was and how genuine and sweet she was, was just so incredible to me and how she talked with her teammates. She has worked so hard on and off the field and I think it really shows.
- Favorite hype song, if any, before your competition
I don't usually listen to music before my races
- Many athletes are quoted as saying " trust the process". What does that mean to you?
"Trust the process" is definitely something I use and say a lot. I think it's a long process and the season can be long. You won't always see the result right away so you can't let it get into your head. You have to trust that your coach knows what they are doing and trust that the results will come. The result could be there when you expect it or more often when you aren't expecting it.
- How do you balance social media with your performance? Does social media impact you positively or negatively?
I try to not listen to a lot of the social media because it could get into your head easily and mess up your training and races. People don't always know the reasons or details to stuff so you can't always listen to it because they don't know the truth and reasons for certain things
- Favorite and not favorite high school subject and why?
My favorite would have to be science because you can do experiments and hands-on projects. My least favorite would have to be math because it's math.
- Favorite musical artist and why? What is your favorite song by that artist?
One of my favorite artists is Thomas Rhett and his song Life Changes
- Favorite pre- and post- meal?
Pre race meal if it's in the morning then oatmeal and a banana if its a night race then eggs potatoes toast or bagel with peanut butter, post race if it's in the morning then going out to breakfast place, night race then chickfila or In-n-out and ice cream usually, unless we go out with the team then its wherever the parents decide to go
- Dire question warning :) If you were unable to continue to compete in track and field, what would you do?
I would probably be playing soccer still
- What do you see your legacy being-in and outside the track world?
I want to be known as a respectful and kind person because if I am not being a good person then I have failed. It's easier to just be nice and respectful then a rude or bad person
- What is your vice? What do you binge on that you can't seem to control?
My vice is whenever a good series comes out of Netflix or whichever streaming service, I will binge the whole thing and finish it in one day.
- If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?
If I could meet anyone I think I would have to say Sinclaire Johnson because first of all it's Sinclaire Johnson and she is just amazing but I also think I can learn so much from her and how she navigated college and going pro and her process through it all.
