Interview with Emily Pritt

EP:  Your welcome.  Glad to help you out.

NEOHSTRACK:  So, you recently committed to attend and run for North Carolina State University.  What was it that made you choose the Wolfpack?

EP:  I picked NC State because I really felt like it was the right school to
take me to the next level both academically and athletically. When I first
met Coach Geiger and Coach Henes I had an instant connection with them. They made me feel like I could trust them, which was a very important factor to me. Then when I went and visited the campus and got to meet the team I felt like I could've chose no better of a place.

NEOHSTRACK:  It's great that you found a school where you really feel comfortable.  I'm sure you will do just great in Raleigh.  So what type of training have you been doing lately?  Do you have a favorite workout?

EP:  Right now I'm doing about 45 miles a week. I have easy runs, speed
training, tempo runs, and a long run. My favorite workout would actually
have to be our long run. I just love to go out there, hit moderately fast
miles and just keep cranking them out. Long run day also means breakfast
day, some of the girls and I go out to breakfast after a long run. Nothing
beats a 10 mile morning run and some eggs.

NEOHSTRACK:  Nothing like eggs after a nice long run.  Sounds like your training is going well.  Do you have any specific goals for the 2008 season? 

EP:  I've just recently started thinking about long term goals because the
season is just starting up. I have a lot of goals both individually and team
oriented. The obvious goals are to make it to state in as many events as
possible, win districts, county, and league in as many events as possible,
and break my PR in the mile down to 4:50. But I also have team goals like go
undefeated in duel meets, have more team unity this year, and win the
federal league.

NEOHSTRACK:  It is great to see such a great individual runner be such a team player.  Those sound like very good goals, and ones that I'm sure you will achieve.  Are there any meets you are really looking forward to this year?  Do you have a favorite meet? 

EP:  My favorite meet, no contest, is our Twilight Invitational. I love racing
under the lights (what runner doesn't?). But this year I'm also looking
forward to our duel meet with Hoover because I know that they're going to
give us some seriously tough competition that will test us.

NEOHSTRACK:  There is definitely nothing like running under the lights.  Always gives you an extra burst of adrenaline. 

So what was it that got you started in running?

EP:  I've always been active in sports. I played every sport out there growing up and I was especially driven into soccer. In sixth grade I had a history teacher named Mr. Heidy, who was the middle school cross country coach. He always talked about cross country and how great it was and that I should give it a try. I don't know what made me do it but the summer of my seventh grade year I went to cross country camp and fell in love. I loved everything about running. I'm a really competitive person and running seemed to encourage that characteristic of mine. Ever since then I've been hooked.

NEOHSTRACK:  It must be something about history teachers that make great coaches.  My first track coach was also a history teacher.  So what do you think has most attributed to your success in running?

EP:  It's hard to pick one thing to attribute my success to but I think there
are four things that have made me the runner I am today. My coaches, my
passion for running, hard work and my competitiveness are the most important factors that have influenced my running. The most important factor is without a doubt my coaches. They put so much time and effort into each one of their athletes. I love to run well to please my coaches. I work harder knowing that my coaches expect certain things out of me. Without one of those characteristics I wouldn't be the same runner.

NEOHSTRACK:  Sounds like you have some great coaches.  So most of Ohio knows that you will be a runner to watch out for this spring, but who else on your team should we be watching for?

EP:  Our team motto this year is "small but mighty". We don't have the biggest team but we have a lot of strong individuals. In the sprints department we have Tambra Isles, Jada Henderson, Courtney Armsy and Emily Kenyon. Those four will take care of anything ranging from 100 meters to 400 meters. Courtney was also a regional finalist in the 100 meter hurdles. This year she'll make it to the state meet. In our field events we have Gail Ferguson and Abby Kenyon. Gail qualified to states last year in the pole-vault and I have no doubt she will return to the state meet again this year. Abby Kenyon is a freshman who will long jump for us this year. She has the potential to make some noise. Then in the distance you have Hallie Busta, Shannon Ferguson, and Mady "Mad Dawg" Schular. Hallie obviously is a major threat in the 3200. Shannon Ferguson and Mady Schular are both underclassman (sophomore and freshman) that will come out of the woodwork this season and definitely surprise some people.

NEOHSTRACK:  Sounds like the Lady Polar Bears could be a force to be reckoned with this year.  We'll be watching the results to see how your team does this year.

So you just ran at the Raleigh Relays this past weekend, where you won the 3200.  How did it feel to run on the track that you will be running on for the next four years of your career?

EP:  It was amazing. The best feeling was when I would run by the start/finish line and see my future coach, Laurie Henes, watching me run and giving me encouragements. The girls on the team also cheered me on. It really made me think that in a couple of months they will be my new "family". It gave me some goose bumps!

NEOHSTRACK:  That is awesome.  Sounds like you are definitely pumped to be a member of the Wolfpack.  Well Emily, thanks so much for the interview.  Good luck, and maybe we will catch up with you again sometime during the season. 

EP:  Thanks.  Anything to help out. 

That concludes our interview with Massillon Jackson's Emily Pritt.