Profile:

Sport: Cross Country

Height: 5’5”

Experience: Four years

Shoe Preference: Nike’s

Key Stat: Mile personal record of 5:20

Pre-Game:

What is your favorite pre-meet meal? Spaghetti

What is your favorite pre-meet music? I listen to many different artists and genres, not one specific artist really.

What is your favorite course? The regional course in Grand Prairie, Texas. I like how the ground is flat.

Who do you look up to as a role model? I look up to Katie Ruhala, who ran a few years ago

What is your favorite quote? “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.” – Louis Zamperini

Post-Game:

The Red Ledger: Who/what introduced you to cross-country?

Carson Hockersmith: I would always run at a young age but my parents didn’t want me running competitively because they didn’t want me to burn out. So I started playing volleyball until the summer of sixth grade when I started to and was introduced to cross-country and I have loved it since.

TRL: What do you hope to accomplish this season in cross-country?

CH: I am hoping that I can win our race this weekend, and I hope our team can win regionals this year and place in the top ten

TRL: What are your strengths in cross-country?

CH: I do a lot of the little things like stretching, drinking lots of water, and eating well which I think sets myself apart from others.

TRL: What’s your favorite meet you have ran in?

CH: I like running in the Chilli Pepper meet in Arkansas.

TRL: Do you have any pre-meet rituals or routines?

CH: I am really focused on the morning of the race and throughout our warmup that we do in every meet I stay focused.

TRL: What motivates you to compete hard in cross-country?

CH: I always work my hardest and that motivates me to compete well.

TRL: How has your coach, Greg Christensen, impacted and helped you improve as a runner?

CH: He is really encouraging, a good motivator and he knows what he is talking about.

TRL: What is your best time that you have ran in a meet?

CH: I ran a 19:45 which is my best time.

TRL: Have you had any injury that you’ve had to overcome in cross-country?

CH: I hurt my metatarsal in my foot in the beginning of summer, and I had a stress fracture, resulting in me being out for 9 weeks. I have had to mentally overcome this injury and towards the end of summer I slowly got back into running.

TRL: What are the goals for your team this year?

CH: All season the goal has been to make it to state

TRL: What district opponents are you looking forward to run against this year?

CH: We want to beat Highland Park in district, and at regionals we hope to beat The Colony and Wakeland.

TRL: How is it being the captain of the team as a sophomore?

CH: I don’t think its that really that different than being a captain if you are a upperclassman, but I just make sure that all the girls are motivated and it is important that we all encourage one another.