Name: Samree Dishon
School: Niwot Highschool
What was your most memorable race?
Pat Patten 2018, or Cross Country State 2018 were probably the most memorable races for me. They were the type of races which allowed you to experience first hand, that running for something bigger than yourself can lead to outcomes you've only been dreaming of.
These two races were probably one of the harder races for me but when looking back I don't remember the pain. I remember how proud I was of my team and how hyped I was to run for them again (and the views at Pat Patten).
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
One thing I learned in cross country is that the person who crossed the finish line today probably won't be the person crossing first on any other given day (unless of course it's Katelyn Tuohy). But that said, I think I had different competitors for each race and it was fun to see where we could take each other.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishments happened before and after the gun went off. Helping my team win state titles as well as placing third at nationals are definitely big feats for my team and I. I would also say making my teammate Eva laugh for the first time is a HUGE accomplishment.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your career in high school?
If I could do it all over again, I would believe more and doubt less. I would also try to give Coach less shocked expressions every time he told me my paces and eps.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I had a really hard time trusting the process. I was super impatient and on top of that I kept getting injury after injury. Nothing made me more restless than being physically held back from where I wanted to go.
It took a long time for me to learn that time and consistency was the key to being a good distance runner and that I didn't have to do it all in one day. I'm still impatient but I learned that it was okay to slow down and smell the roses and look at the view.
What will you miss the most?
I'll miss my team, coaches and what we built together. To me, it really was a family.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Love running, be patient, be positive, eat good, drink water, wear good shoes, run for something bigger than yourself and be HUMBLE.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
Coach Christensen taught me to believe in myself and to look at the world from a different perspective. I'm really grateful for him and the opportunities he's provided for me. I only started having real goals after meeting Coach. And as for my accomplishments, none of it would have been possible without him.
What are your college plans?
I'm running for the University of New Mexico.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
I would like to say thank you to my teammates and coaches for an amazing four years and all the lessons they taught me. I would also like to thank my family for supporting me throughout this whole process.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Nothing ever happens the way you planned it. Everything that's going on right now was definitely not part of our four year plan. But the cool thing is that life moves forward and we're constantly going somewhere. So take it one day at a time and don't stop too long if you do. Feel everything that you're feeling right now but don't let it consume you. There's beauty in everything if you look for it so look at the bright side and stay positive. 
