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<strong>Colorado's Class of 2014 makes their decisions...</strong></p>
Although Jennifer Celis ran very well in cross country, it's her 400 and 800 that garner most of the attention. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Jennifer Celis's best marks:
200 meters - 26.16
400 meters - 56.34
800 meters - 2:13.10
5K cross country - 19:28.0 (at altitude)
When you started your high school career did you have any idea that any of this was coming--several individual and relay state titles, and two cross country team titles?
I remember looking at my friend, Taylor Polson, after a track practice saying that I wouldn't ever try the 800. I planned to run the 3200 and 300 hurdles in high school. My middle school self definitely wasn't expecting this! It wasn't until track season my freshman year that I started to become more aware of how I was doing in comparison to the other girls in the state. Many things that have happened in high school running were unexpected, but all great blessings.
Your high school record shows more of a steady improvement that a lot of high school athletes see. What kept you working toward those better and better times?
Although I'm very thankful for the success, in the past, I have left state meets wishing I had done something different to prepare. Sometimes if I'm struggling on a set, I flashback to a disappointing race, and the fear of that happening again helps keep me going.
Pick for us a favorite high school memory and one thing that's still out there on the table that you'd like to accomplish before you finish your high school career.
There are so many! If I had to chose one though, it would be walking over to my team after the sprint medley relay my freshman year. Going into the state meet I think we were ranked fourth. The plan was that I would run the 400 for prelims and the 200 for finals since it was the event before the 800. After prelims, however, we were right there with the other teams. It was stressful the night before trying to decide whether to be fresh for the 800 or take a chance on the medley. The risk was worth it for the team. It was such a great feeling to have crossed the line first, but it was an even greater feeling to run over to my teammates with tears of joy.
I'm sure you had opportunities other than Oklahoma State, what made OSU stand above the others for you?
I loved the coaching staff at OSU! Coach Smith was the first coach that started emailing me my junior year and was the first coach that called July 1 - that really stood out to me. The coaches and the team members were all very friendly and welcoming on my visit. I could also see how serious the girls were about running. I feel that that level of competitiveness and the distance from home will help me grow as an athlete and a person.
Oklahoma State is known as a distance school. Is this signing a reflection of a commitment to take your races to longer distances in college or is there something here that doesn't necessarily meet the eye?
I think it's a little of both. Coach Smith and I have talked about focusing on the 800/1500 and depending on how that goes depends on what other events they'll have me try. The competitiveness of their mid-distance girls also drew me there. Running with girls like Kaela Edwards and Savannah Camacho will be a great experience that I'm looking forward to!
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Most of us won't get a chance to see Jennifer Celis before state. Hotchkiss is a long way from the Front Range, but the Bulldogs do drop in on several Stocker Stadium meets in Grand Junction before state. Celis already owns the 2A 400 and 800 meter records and figures to be taking her shots at pushing those marks a little further out of reach this spring. But, Hotchkiss also figures to be in the 2A team title hunt this spring. So, it all figures to be a very busy spring for Celis.