When I was a kid, I was the last person you’d ever expect to join a cross-country team.
I used to hate running.
I remember participating in Lincoln’s annual Pumpkin Run when I was ten years old.
It’s a one-mile race for kids, and I was so bad at jogging that I actually had to train for it.
I often cried during those practice sessions.
At the time, I had worked my way down to a 12-minute mile — and I was so proud of my improvement.
But if you would’ve told me then that I’d eventually compete in Division-I track and cross country, I never would’ve believed it.
Yet, here I am, running for the University of Nebraska Omaha — and I couldn’t be prouder.
I guess it’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish.
Switching Paths
Despite my current success on the track, I didn’t start my racing journey until my junior year at UNO.
That’s because I spent my first two years on the softball team.
I’ve played the sport since I was five years old.
It was my first love.
But it eventually became clear it wasn’t for me anymore.
I was ready to move on, but there was one problem: I didn’t want to give up being a student-athlete.
My parents knew I’d been running for fun and suggested I reach out to the cross-country and track coach, Cliff Cisar, to see if he’d give me a chance.
I figured I had nothing to lose, so I did.
Coach Cisar agreed to give me an opportunity, and I started training with him over the summer.
The transition wasn’t easy, but I was determined to learn everything I could about my new sport.
With the help of my teammates and coaches, I started to gain confidence and fit in with the team.
It felt like a fresh start.
I was so grateful for the chance to compete at the Division I level again — even if it wasn’t in the sport I originally envisioned.
A New Sport
I started competing in cross-country and track in the fall of my junior year.
It’s crazy to think about now, but I had zero expectations for myself because I’d never competed in a race before.
I still remember my first race of the season.
It was at the Augustana Twilight, and I was so nervous, I thought I’d throw up before the race even started.
There were around 200 runners competing, and I began questioning if I’d made the right decision to switch sports.
But once the race started, the adrenaline kicked in, and I pushed myself to the limit.
I was completely spent by the end of the race, but I left with such a high.
My family was there.
My teammates were there.
I finished the race in a time I never thought I’d be capable of, and I thought to myself, “This was the right decision.”
Since then, there have been ups and downs, but every race is unique, challenging, and fun in its own way.
Today, I compete in the 5K and 6K in cross-country, the mile, 3K, and 5K in indoor track, and the 1500 and 5K in outdoor track.
I’ve improved every season, and I take great pride in the hard work and dedication it’s taken to get to this point.
I’ve learned to embrace the hard work and dedication it takes to be successful — in all areas of my life.
I’m currently enrolled in a five-year program at UNO to earn my master’s degree in architectural engineering.
I love the program, and I plan to help design structural systems for buildings when I graduate.
It’s a unique niche to study, but I’m not afraid to blaze my own path.
After all, I switched sports halfway through my college career.
As for this season, I want to get my 5K time down, break 10:30 in the 3K, and be competitive at the conference meet.
I also want to enjoy my last season of cross-country and track with my teammates and give it my all in every race. I have a shot at breaking into the top 10 in school history in the 5K, which would be an incredible honor.
It’d mean a lot to show all the hard work I’ve put in, but also the hard work of my teammates and coaches who’ve pushed and supported me.
I never imagined any of this would be possible when I was a kid, and it’d be a dream come true to leave my mark on the history of this program.
A Special Place
I’m so grateful to be a student-athlete at UNO, and I’ll always cherish the memories and relationships I’ve built here.
In the limited time I’ve had, the program has already grown so much — in its resources and with its people, who have played such an important role in my success.
We also have such a strong faith community here.
I’ve been part of team Bible studies and involved myself in Christian athlete groups.
Through it all, I’ve learned so much about the value of hard work, consistency, and community.
I’ve had failures, but I’ve also had a lot of success, which will shape my next steps.
If anyone is considering switching sports or trying something new, my advice is to go for it.
You have nothing to lose, and you never know what good things could happen.
I never knew I’d become a cross-country and track athlete, but I had the courage to take that risk — and it’s completely changed my life for the better.
So, go for it.
You might just surprise yourself.