Accomplishments:
2020 US Olympic Team Trials 800m finalist, 2x USATF Indoor Championships finalist, 3x NCAA All-American, 6x MAAC Champion

Atlanta Track Club Staff Role:
Coordinator, Volunteer Services

What makes Atlanta Track Club Elite Team special?
Atlanta Track Club is a very special team to be a part of because of how close we all are to each other. We have a bond that extends outside of practice and competition, so it really feels like we’re just one big family.

What was the best race of your career so far?
The best race of my career so far was the NCAA Eastern Regional Championship during my fourth year at Monmouth. It was the first time I had ever even qualified for this meet, so it was just exciting to be there. No one really knew who I was or expected anything from me and I was able to make it through the qualifying round and onto the final. I had to get third place or better in my heat to secure a spot in the NCAA final in Eugene. I tied a girl for third and they had to take it down to the millisecond to see who beat who. I ended up running a personal best (2:03.86) at the time and beat her by .001, securing my spot to the final. I don’t think I have ever been more happy than in that moment when I found out I made it!

Which song best describes your running career? 
One of my favorite songs to listen to pre-race is, "Unstoppable" by Sia. I feel like this song describes my running career well because I have endured many hardships to get to where I am today, but I didn’t let any of them stop me from getting to where I wanted to go. It inspires me to be the best runner I can be and not allow anything to stop me from continuing to push myself and strive to accomplish all of my goals, no matter how big they may be.

Which movie title best describes your running career? 
I would say the Rocky movies are the best movies to describe my running career. One reason being that throughout my career I have always felt like I have always been an underdog. I am not always seeded as the fastest runner, or even have one of the fastest times but I have always found a way to compete and not get intimidated or give up just because someone has run faster than I have. I am always going to give it my all and do whatever I can to race hard and be a strong competitor in any race. And the other reason probably just being because I am from Philly :)

What is your favorite thing to do after a hard workout?
My favorite thing to do after a hard workout is to to talk to all of my teammates about how hard it was, and be happy that we survived. Then go take a long shower, drink coffee, eat a yummy meal and relax.

Where is your favorite place to run in Atlanta? 
My favorite place to run in Atlanta is at The Chattahoochee River, it’s so pretty and you always see lots of friends there!

Where is your favorite place to eat in Atlanta? 
My favorite place to eat in Atlanta is First Watch. They have the BEST breakfast/brunch. I usually get an omelette, coffee and a fresh juice.

What is the best running advice you have to offer?
My best running advice is to really focus on the little things. Everyone you are competing against is putting in the work on the track too, so the best way to try to get ahead is to really make sure you are doing everything outside of practice well, too. Make sure you take care of your body by stretching/rolling out a lot, sleeping well, eating well (but don’t forget to treat yourself) and stay hydrated. And always make sure to have fun!

What is the best song to listen to before you compete and why? 
"Unstoppable" by Sia because it’s really inspiring and makes you feel confident and ready to race no matter what. It really reminds you of what you are capable of and is a great song to get you hyped up right before it’s time to toe the line.

When did you start running? 
I started running competitively in 4th grade. I have always loved running the 800m so I have enjoyed getting to see how far I have come and how much I have improved throughout my running career, especially in that event. I have learned that this sport takes patience, but it makes it that much better when you do finally run a new personal best or accomplish a long-time goal because you know how much work you have had to put in to reach that goal. I have so many amazing memories from this sport and I know it truly has shaped me into the person I am today.