Completed Event: Cross Country at Cowboy Preview on August 29, 2025 , , 2nd - M/3rd - W
Final
Cross Country
at Cowboy Preview
University of Oklahoma Athletics
A Conversation with Sarah Scott
September 30, 2015 | Cross Country
Sarah Scott is a lot of things: a soccer player turned distance runner, a hockey enthusiast, and even a dog whisperer. One thing the Wylie, Texas, native is not, however, is selfish. From her Big 12 Runner of the Week selection to her consistent improvement on the course, Scott, a sophomore, remains grounded. The determined student-athlete has managed to maintain a 3.16 GPA in biology, be a top finisher for the Sooners women's cross country team, and devote time to her faith. Scott took a moment away from training and quality time with her four-legged friends to share more about her life.
Sophomore Sarah Scott competing at the Panorama Farms Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. on Sept. 26. The OU women's cross country team placed fifth.
On earning Big 12 Runner of the Week Recognition for the first time:
"Honestly, I saw it more as a team kind of thing because without the team I wouldn't have gotten it. I thought it was really cool how Zac Randall (from the men's team) got it, too (in the same week). It was great to share it with him and a nice recognition. I chose OU because of the team. When I came here to visit, the team was just awesome and Coach (Jason) Dunn was great. I really liked the environment, as a school and as an athletics program. I credit my success and recognition to Coach Dunn and the workouts he puts before us as well as my teammates. Without them, I wouldn't be where I'm at. It helps so much to have a really good group of women to run with. Every day at practice, we all push each other, we don't let anybody drop off. We constantly encourage each other and that just helps us find our pace. Our goal this year is to get to nationals as a team so I just go out and run as fast as I can."
On playing soccer and her love for hockey:
"I played soccer from kindergarten all the way to my senior year in high school. Honestly, my toughness comes from soccer. It has helped me with getting through a running competition and being focused. Up until last year, I never ran cross country without also playing soccer. Soccer has helped me with speed for closing a race fast and learning how to pace myself throughout. I have to go hard in the beginning during a race, but it's like trying to pace yourself throughout a soccer game. And as far as hockey goes, I pretty much grew up at the American Airlines Center (in Dallas). My aunt was an ice girl so we went to the Dallas Stars games all of the time. We went to every home game because she got free tickets. I did a camp before, but that was pretty much it for my playing."
"Any animal I'm around...I'll have a conversation with it." -Sarah Scott
On pursuing a professional degree in veterinary medicine:
"I just love animals. I don't really know where it comes from. I had a golden retriever and I really loved her. I really love being around animals. I want to fix the problems that are wrong with them and return them to the children. Pets are a lot cuter than people and I don't do well with human bodily stuff. Animals are just better for me to deal with -- I'd rather deal with a puppy than a screaming kid. I want to find cures for animals that have seizures and cancers. I want to be able to get them treated and healed so I can return them to their families healthy.
On being a dog and animal whisperer:
"I love that movie Dr. Doolittle. I think it's cool how she talks to animals. Any animal I'm around, if I'm at a friend's house or something, I'll talk to it and have conversations with it. If you really listen to them and read their body language, you can really tell what's wrong with them and how they're feeling. It's nice, but you have to listen to what they're saying."
Scott who has had an affinity for animals since a young age, sits with her golden retriever Penny.
On her faith:
"My iPod is pretty much all Christian music, like Toby Mac. Christian music is so positive. I feel like when I listen to it I can get connected to God. It's really relaxing and it brings me closer to my faith. Freshman year was kind of rough because I battled some injuries and kind of had some setbacks. It was just learning how to cope with that. I had to have my faith and talking with Coach Dunn about it. It was a big learning process from last year to this year. I love my faith because it really helped."
Other tidbits:
On her Netflix: Action movies - The Bourne series and James Bond movies
Other activities: Kayaking, horseback riding
Players Mentioned
Friday, October 28
Friday, October 28
Monday, November 30
Monday, March 23
