Collective Wisdom of Sooner Seniors, Part 2

For the second in our series of track and field seniors sharing their wisdom, we got responses from a wide variety of specialties. These five, plus eight more student-athletes, will be competing in their final Big 12 Championship this weekend. We asked them to reflect on their OU careers and share those experiences. In the midst of taking finals and preparing for this weekend's competition, they took some time from their busier than usual schedules to share their thoughts and what they have learned while at OU.

Q: What was your favorite class from your time at OU? What made it your favorite?
A: My favorite class was probably Autobiographical Writing. As a student, you are so used to writing papers about everyone and everything but yourself. It was a challenge to get used to this style of writing, but, after a while, it was a fun part of writing that I had never explored before. The class was able to share personal stories with each other and discuss other authors' autobiographies.

Q: What was your favorite road trip with the Sooners?
A: The Arizona State spring break trips have been my favorite. Not only do we get to just relax, train and compete, but we were also able to explore Tempe some. I was able to attend several Major League Baseball spring training games while we were there. Everyone is in such a good mood, too, because the Arizona trip means it's outdoor season finally. (Editor's Note: Like several other Sooners, Kate's event, discus, is only competed during the outdoor season.)

Q: What piece of advice would you share with the incoming freshmen if you had a chance to speak with them before they started their OU careers?
A: You only get to be an NCAA athlete once in your life — give it all you got and leave no doubt behind.

Q: What was the most exciting thing you experienced during your Sooner career?
A: Receiving my "O" ring may be my most exciting thing as a Sooner. Having an "O" ring shows all the hard work that I have put into the classroom and in competition. It is an exclusive club, and I am proud to be a part of it.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation I plan to go home back to Indianapolis to spend time with family. I plan to stay in Indianapolis for at least the remaining year and train to make the U.S. Army's Outstanding Athlete program, a program that sponsors athletes while they serve in the U.S. Army.

Q: What was your favorite class from your time at OU? What made it your favorite?
A: My favorite class that I took while at OU was nutrition with Dr. K (Knehans). I enjoyed the class because nutrition is something I am very interested in and is a big part of our sport.

Q: What was your favorite road trip with the Sooners?
A: My favorite trip as a Sooner was when the cross country team went to Charlottesville, Va., for the Panorama Farms Invite. It was a very fun trip and the team performed very well.

Q: What is your favorite competition memory?
A: Definitely running in the NCAA Cross Country Championships this past fall. It was my first time ever running at a national meet and it was a great experience.

Q: Who is the teammate who has made the most difference in your time at OU?
A: Brandon Doughty has been the best teammate and friend to me during my time at OU. We have both been there for each other in tough times. He definitely made my transition really easy when I transferred to OU for the 2013 spring semester.

Q: If you could change something about your Sooner career, what would that be?
A: I would take back all the injuries that have held me back from competing. You only have so many opportunities to compete as a collegiate athlete and you can't do that from the sidelines.

Q: What is your best memory, out of all the things you have experienced, while at OU?
A: By far my best experience as an OU athlete was running in the 2015 NCAA cross country meet. Not many people get to experience that.

Q: What piece of advice would you share with the incoming freshmen if you had a chance to speak with them before they started their OU careers?
A: Compete with everything you have and never leave anything out here on the track, cross country course, throwing ring or jump pit. However, always train at about 80 percent because you can't give everything you have out there if you are injured and on the sideline.

Q: What do you want your legacy at OU to be?
A: I want to be remembered as someone who worked hard, did the right thing and was a good teammate to others.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: My plans after graduation are to move back to Canada where I am from and join the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police). I think my degree in criminology will help in the police force.

Q: What was your favorite class from your time at OU? What made it your favorite?
A: My favorite class at OU was Nutrition. The reason this was my favorite class was because you learn how to properly read food labels and have a better understanding of what is healthy. I like to try my best at eating healthy and I learned a lot in this class on how to do so. It is a class I would recommend to anyone because it is important information that will help you live a healthy life.

Q: What was your favorite moment during competition?
A:My favorite competition memory so far was spring break in Arizona of this year. I set a new personal record of 76.86 meters, beating my old record of 69.96. Doing this gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. I have three meets left in my career and hope I can better this mark and have a new favorite competition memory.

Q: What is your best memory, out of all the things you have experienced, while at OU?
A: My best memory is having my Canadian friends drive down from Canada to visit me and stay to watch a football game. The campus and the energy of the football game was something they have never experienced in Canada and we also had a lot of fun.

Q: What piece of advice would you share with the incoming freshmen if you had a chance to speak with them before they started their OU careers?
A: The advice I would give to someone new is to enjoy every minute of it because time goes fast and, before you know it, you're a senior. I would also say work your hardest because we have the best facilities, coaching staff and athletic program to make you a great athlete. One last thing I would say is to not get frustrated if results don't show right away. It can take time to transition from high school to college. Being patient is the best thing you can do because with hard work eventually the results will start showing.

Q: What was your favorite road trip with the Sooners?
A: My favorite road trip with the Sooners was the trip to Arizona this spring. Being able to be together as a team in a perfect training environment for a week was one of the coolest opportunities I have been a part of while at OU.

Q: What is your best memory, out of all the things you have experienced, while at OU?
A: Although I don't have one specific memory that comes to mind, I will definitely remember all of the memories made with my teammates and coaches. Being able to escape from reality almost every afternoon and go for a run with my teammates will be something I remember forever.

Q: What coach, teammate, professor, classmate or other person has had the biggest positive impact on you? What was it that they did?
A: Former team captain Malcom Wankel, who finished last spring. Malcolm was instrumental in my recruitment at OU as I witnessed another Wisconsinite have success in the program at that time. At OU, Malcolm always acted like the team captain as he was and he mentored the young runners on the team. The way Malcolm would come to practice with an unwavering, upbeat attitude and give it his all in races had a profound impact on the team dynamic and development of a lot of track athletes at OU.

Q: What piece of advice would you share with the incoming freshmen if you had a chance to speak with them before they started their OU careers?
A: I would tell the incoming freshmen that there's not enough time and that they must trust the process. The years at OU go by quickly, so it is important that you seize the opportunities presented to you and make the most of your time in athletics and academics. Additionally, it is important to trust the process. Often, success comes from listening and trusting the coaching staff and the athletes on the team who have had the opportunities to succeed in all facets of life and have done so.

Q: What do you want your legacy at OU to be?
A: From my time at OU, I would like to remembered as a hard worker who has never failed to pursue a comeback from trials and tribulations, someone who others looked up to, and as a student-athlete who set an example and always put my best foot forward.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduating in December, I plan on going back home to Oregon and start shifting to the next phase of my life. I've spent a couple years away from family and it'll be good to have some time with them.

Q: What is your favorite competition memory?
A: I would have to say that my favorite competition memory would be the Big 12 Championship last year. It was a pretty tight competition through the early rounds. It seemed like everyone was within a few meters of each other and I was able to hit a PR to win the competition. My parents flew out from Oregon to Iowa to watch so I was happy that they could be there.

Q: If you could change something about your Sooner career, what would that be?
A: I really wouldn't change anything. It was a great experience. The time I spent here was great and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Q: What is your best memory, out of all the things you have experienced, while at OU?
A: I would have to say the sum of all of the friendships, hangouts, and good times. There have been a lot of great times that have happened in my time here and it made for a great experience.

Q: What piece of advice would you share with the incoming freshmen if you had a chance to speak with them before they started their OU careers?
A: I would say to trust the process. There are people here to help you not only athletically but academically as well. There's going to be difficult times with class and practice, but it's all a part of the process. The outcome will be worth it.