THE ECHO

By Zoe Smyth

When did you start running?
Eighth grade. I did it because my friend told me it would be easy and fun. I got my physical signed the day before, so it was kind of an abrupt decision.

What are your hobbies?
I’d say probably sleeping and eating. I hang out with my boyfriend and friends a lot. Most of my hobbies are related to running.

Have you ever done any other sports?
When I was younger, I did a lot of sports—basketball, T-ball, soccer. I was never good at them, but they helped me appreciate running more because running is less technical. I wasn’t good at other sports because I wasn’t very coordinated back then.

How do you train before cross-country season?
I focus on building my base. Without a good starting point, it’s hard to improve. I do longer runs and harder workouts to be ready for speed training during the season.

What led you to decide to pursue running in college?
I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do it for four more years. My mom and I both love running and talking about it, so it’s something we bond over.

What college have you chosen to run for?
I am going to Indiana State University.

Have you always wanted to run in college?
When I was a freshman, I didn’t think I wanted to because I didn’t like running that much at the time. But as I got older, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue.

What was the scouting experience like?
I knew I wanted to stay close to home and hoped to get a scholarship to help my parents. My goal was to stay in Indiana, so I looked at Ball State, Indiana State, and IUPUI. They were all within an hour and a half from home. It came down to the coach and the team—I really clicked well with the team, even just at practice. Most of the schools that recruited me reached out first, but I also contacted a few myself.

When did you start getting scouted?
Some smaller Division III schools contacted me early in my junior year, since they’re not technically allowed to reach out until then. After track season, more coaches started reaching out. I probably stopped getting messages from coaches a few days after I committed. It was a fun experience, honestly.

Were there any specific benchmarks you needed to meet to catch the attention of scouts?
Yeah, I wanted to go Division I, so breaking 11 minutes in the 3,200-meter run was a goal. Qualifying for the state meet in track also got a lot of attention because it’s so competitive. Staying consistent with my times was something I think coaches really liked.