Why did you decide to attend the U?
"I wanted to stay close to home and the mountains. Then as I started to look at Utah, I really liked the head coach and the culture. The program just really had a good feel to it. And I knew that even if the team didn't qualify for nationals that I would definitely get better and max out my potential because I really liked their training program."
 
What were your expectations for your college career?
"I started out during the COVID-19 year so it was hard to get a feel for how good I could be. So, at first, I didn't really know what to expect and I just wanted to be on the travel team for meets. Then I ended up being the second-best runner on the team behind Popi Tank in 2020. Then we had some other really good runners come into the program that moved me back a little bit. But I still feel like I've been really able to contribute.
 
What has been your favorite cross country race? 
"The Pac-12 Championships last year. We almost won! (The Utes scored the same number of points as Colorado but lost the tie-breaker). For me, I had been dealing with some medical issues and then I was finally healthy for that race. All the hard work I had put in to get back and be ready showed up. The weather was really nice and it was a perfect day."
 
What has it meant for you to be a scholarship student-athlete?
"It would have been impossible for me to do this without a scholarship. It has allowed me to focus on school and running and not have to worry about working in order to cover everything. I've been able to focus and not have conflicts. I know my teammates have really benefited as well and it has created a great opportunity for all of us to be a really successful team."
 
Beyond your degree, how has being a student-athlete prepared you for the rest of your life?
"Coach Kep is very direct with us about how of being successful in the sport and out of the sport are connected. Being a successful student-athlete, especially in a sport like cross country, really sets us up for success after we graduate. Because of all the running we have to do from fall into the spring, we really don't have an offseason. We have to be very organized and self-disciplined, and on top of things. I think that helps all us be better students. We also learn how to be part of team and work together. It gets us on a great path."
 
What are your goals for the rest of this year?
"In cross country, I would like to climb into a position where I could be an All-American at nationals. I think our team could place well there and be a top-10 team. I know we can do it. In track, I love the 10K. That's my baby. It would be amazing if I could take next step in that event, make nationals and place high in the 10K as well."

The Details

Hometown    
Sandy, Utah

High School    
Alta

Academic Year    
Senior

Major    
Social Work

Favorite Venue    
Riverside Course in California where we raced in the 2022 Pac-12 Championships.

Favorite Food    
Gnocchi pasta

Favorite Movie        
Top Gun: Maverick

Favorite Song    
All the Debts I Owe, by Caamp

Big Moments
Utah's fifth scorer at the 2022 Pac-12 Cross Country Championships after jumping seven spots in the final 2K.

First career top-10 finish by placing ninth overall at the 2023 Roy Griak Invitational