TJ) So I really chilled out this past indoor season. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't
over-doing it in terms of a ton of intensive racing too quickly since I barely ran
last year. My coaches didn't want to rush me, especially knowing that I had the
entire outdoor season ahead of me. We wanted to build enough base to be able
to compete at a higher level during outdoor and not get injured again.
Throughout the outdoor season, I was feeling really good - with each meet I felt
like I was really getting back to my old self. I got a couple of baby PR's and for
me that was so exciting - at the end of the day, all that I can do is work on being
the best version of myself, both within athletics or just as a person in general.
I'd really say that the PR game is what drives me - always just thinking to myself
"what can I do to improve this race and get a new PR?" I always want to continue
to challenge myself - and I'd say that having this mentality really put me in the
position to qualify for regionals.
LC) Overall, how was your first NCAA experience?
TJ) At regionals, I was lucky to have a couple of great races. My teammate Roisin
Willis brought me to great times in both the 800 prelim and final. It was definitely
a really big surprise as I was a time qualifier for the NCAA National
Championship.
I never really put the pressure on myself, I kind of just go out there, run hard, and
do my best - that is all I can do. There were so many emotions once I realized
that I had actually qualified. All of the emotions from the previous year with not
being able to run really set in - obviously running is really important to me. I
worked really hard all year to get back to this point - so to make a comeback like
that was really exciting.
In terms of nationals, it was just such a wonderful opportunity. I was so happy to
be there and really just wanted to live in the moment and I feel like I really did
that. It was incredible to be able to race at a meet that I used to watch as a kid, I
never fully saw myself actually running there, I couldn't have even imagined it. It
wasn't my best race tactically - definitely was a new environment, I went out at a
pace that I was not used to, so I'd say it was an incredible learning experience.
I learned so much from that race and definitely just lived in the moment. I felt so
much support from my teammates, family, and everyone back home at Niwot. I'm definitely hungry for more and I'm excited to take what I've learned from this
experience into next year.
High School
