Katrina Thoms '20 Recruiting Profile

Growing up on a ranch in Central Texas, my days were filled with both freedom and responsibility.  I had all the usual ranch chores, but I also had the ability to run freely, play in creeks, and ride horses.  Thus, running and athletics has always been associated with freedom and exhilaration.

In my relatively short career as a runner, I have had many amazing cross-country and track experiences.   It has been a truly life changing opportunity to form the strong relationships with my teammates as well as meet and compete against extraordinary athletes from other schools.  When I first started running on the Highschool team, I was nervous about my capabilities.  However, a Senior, Jordan Brock, took me under her wing and showed me the true spirit of competition.  This allowed me to gain confidence and appreciate the entire experience of running cross-country and track. Jordan taught me that it is not only about the race day, but the camaraderie with my team and with other competitors.  Now, as captain of the cross-country team, I strive to give back the support, love, and mentorships I have been blessed with to my teammates and competition. I am energized by watching my teammates develop and cheering them on during their races.   My coach often tells me I run more miles cheering others on at competitions then in my own races.

My family has always been supportive of my athletic endeavors. They come to all my events and I could not ask for a better support team. The early morning rides to practice, off-season workouts, and unconditional love and support have allowed me to drive towards my goals and achieve success in athletics and academics.     

As I look to the next step in my career I am excited and no longer approach the transition to college with apprehension.   I am excited to find the same support team, friends, and passionate coaches and teachers to guide me to even greater academic and athletic achievements.