Senior spotlight is an attempt to let athletes tell as much of their own story as we can. We want to take a look into some of the things that make them tick. If you are a senior who is in the top 25 this fall and want to be featured, send an email to milesplitga@gmail.com
Here we've got Josie Hutchinson from Pope for a senior spotlight moment:
What is your PR in XC so far?
17:31
What are your college plans, if you have them figured out?
I am committed to run at Samford University next fall!
What's your most memorable race or race you're most proud of?
The race that I am most proud of winning was state last year. It was a super hot day and there were some very fast girls in my race.
What is your favorite meet in cross country season and why?
My favorite meet is Wingfoot. I love the carnival style with the music and hay bales at night. It is always a great experience and low pressure, so I can just have fun when I'm there.
What has been your biggest challenge in high school or what has been the hardest obstacle to overcome?
I think the hardest thing I have had to overcome is mental blocks. It can be so hard to stay consistent with practice, eating well, and sleep, especially when you aren't seeing results that you are hoping for. I struggled a lot with this last year, and was finally able to break out of it and have a big PR.
What is your daily/weekly mileage like?
I usually run between 35 and 40 miles per week. I also use cross training to help me hit that mileage.
What do you think is the biggest part of training that has helped you achieve success?
I think that having a team and teammates to train with are super important. It is so much easier to stay motivated when you have people with you who also have the same goals as you.
What is your all time favorite workout?
My favorite types of workouts are fartleks. I usually will do 60 seconds on, 90 seconds off, for about 30 minutes or a certain number of sets.
What is your least favorite or hardest workout?
I am not a big fan of 400s. We recently did a workout of 10x400, starting at 5k race pace and ending around 1600 race pace.
Who do you have to thank for your success?
My coaches for all their hard work and dedication to helping me grow and develop over my high school career. My family for always supporting and believing in me. My friends and teammates for always pushing me to be better and helping me to work hard every day.
Who do you look up to the most in your event?
Someone who has always been an inspiration to me is Katelynn Dollar. I considered her a good friend, and someone that I looked up to. She was always the first to congratulate me on a race win, or a PR. She fought mental heath struggles and used running as a way to express herself and spread awareness on mental health in running.
What gets you pumped up for a workout or race?
I always try to keep my mind off the race as much as I can. I love to braid hair, and listen to music with my friends.
What is your favorite food and/or movie and/or TV show and/or song?
My favorite food is hibachi, and I really like Greys Anatomy. I love all kinds of music, but me and my team love to listen to Disney music when we run.
What will you miss the most about high school?
I will definitely miss my team. They have become some of my best friends, but I am super excited to keep up with them and see how they continue to do in the next couple years.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to do everything to the best of my ability. I believe that God has given me the gift of running and brought so many people into my life because of it. I wish I had taken it more seriously when I first started, but I am super excited to see what I can continue to do in college.
