Rams Track and Field: Meet the Team aclaussentubbs26, October 17, 2023October 18, 2023 Get to know a few track and field Rams— who they are, what inspires them, and why they compete. Hailey Carolan Sophomore / Robins, IA Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Likes: chocolate, sports, chemistry, biology, crafting, hiking, shopping with friends Dislikes: the cold What’s your secret to athletic success? “My secret to success is to work hard in the offseason and at practice, but when it comes to competition days I don’t think too hard about it and put my trust in God!” Aside from track, what’s your passion? “I am passionate to become a Physician or PA and to help people in my community. I love learning about the sciences and I can’t wait to put that into action someday and help patients in real life! Why do you compete? “My reason for running/jumping at Cornell is to be a part of the Ramily and make long lasting friendships. I also like to continually try to perform at a higher level than what I believe I am capable of. Most importantly, though, I run/jump to bring glory to God! Reaching my teammates and other athletes through FCA at Cornell brings me a great sense of purpose and happiness!” Zoe Peesel Freshman / Evergreen, CO Intended Major: Business Administration Likes: hiking, skiing, playing with dogs, being with friends and family Dislikes: eggs What’s your secret to athletic success? “The secret to success in my sport for me is enjoyment. It’s really hard to be good at something if you don’t like it and don’t enjoy doing it. Running is a lot of work, so it’s important to have a good time with it.” Where is your favorite place in the world? “Anywhere in the mountains.” Why do you compete? “I run to be part of something bigger than myself! I love seeing my team improve and being a part of that. I like to improve myself and make myself proud as well. I’ve also met lots of cool people and made some of my best friends ever from running.” Tyler Bilskie Junior / Solon, IA Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Minor: Applied statistics Likes: movies, hiking, snowboarding, the outdoors Dislikes: overly long board games, itchy sweaters, sauerkraut What’s your secret to athletic success? “Ironically enough, I believe the secret to success in my sport is that there is no secret. To be the best in this sport requires the discipline to keep working even when the conditions are far from perfect. Even when your legs may not feel the best, or the weather isn't perfect, you just have to put your head down, smile, and enjoy the run. Seeing results can take days, months, or even years, so having the discipline to work through the lows and highs without experiencing the gratitude of instant results is what I believe is the ‘secret’ to success in this sport.” Where is your favorite place in the world? “My favorite place in the world is probably Boulder, Colorado. After spending the summer training at altitude in Boulder, I fell in love with the area. Being able to explore the beauty of nature within the canyons and up in the mountains was by far the most enjoyable thing I have ever experienced. Climbing up to peaks as high as 13,000 feet gives you an incredibly different view of the world. This, along with the people around the area who share many of the same passions as me, creates the perfect environment that matches who I am.” Why do you compete? “The reason why I run is because I believe it helps me reach the best version of myself. Running requires developing a strong work ethic and discipline which applies very well to many other areas of life. Surrounding myself with like-minded people who also strive to be the best version of themselves, such as my teammates, helps drive me to constantly improve and live the best life I can.” Caitlyne Mar Senior / San Fransisco, CA Major: Criminal Psychology in Society Likes: books, music, movies, sports, pasta, anything fuzzy Dislikes: getting wet, bad book-to-movie adaptations, disorganization, spicy foods What’s something you can’t live without? “One thing I can't live without is my books. I love reading and I would be bored out of my mind if I didn't have books. And I mean my physical copies, not digital or audio. Those aren't the same!” What motivates you? “Something that motivates me is a challenge. I love pushing myself to meet a goal, or even surpass it if that is my intention.” Why do you compete? “I run because my roommate, friends, and boyfriend were on the team and said they enjoyed it. I continue to run because the team culture is great and I enjoy the workouts. I like feeling myself improve in a quantifiable way at every meet.” Sidney Brown Senior / Eaton, CO Major: Anthropology Minor: Biology Likes: seeing progressive stages of success in myself and others Dislikes: those who look down on others Aside from track, what’s your passion? “Growing up, I struggled with various physical and social health issues, and my family always relied on holistic and alternative medicine to treat me. This approach had a positive impact on me, and I became very interested in this field of medicine. Therefore, after college, I aspire to be a part of the world of holistic and alternative medicine to help others who have similar experiences to me.” What’s something you can’t live without? “My emotional support water bottle is something that holds a great deal of significance for me. It is an item that is well known to those around me for the comfort it provides.” Why do you compete? “Running keeps my mind healthy. I also run because I care about how my niece and nephew perceive me and my achievements in life. It is important for me to be a positive role model for them, demonstrating that life can present challenges, but it is possible to overcome them by finding your tribe and enjoying the journey, through the good and the bad.” Parker Voigt Sophomore / St. Louis, MO Major: Physical Education Likes: being active, traveling, Travis Scott Dislikes: reading, sitting at a desk all day Where is your favorite place in the world? “My favorite place in the world has to be Vienna, Austria. I went there over the summer and I loved the atmosphere. The people are very welcoming and the country is absolutely beautiful.” What motivates you? “My family, friends, and teammates. Motivation also comes from the goals I set for myself. This sport takes a lot of discipline and having goals and people that care for me is what motivates me to run every day.” Why do you compete? “I run because it gives me structure in my life and I am able to let out stress. Running has given me confidence and has allowed me to meet lifelong friends. Being a part of the team allows me to have a focused mindset and have a purpose for being at Cornell. The team has allowed me to accomplish great things and makes me love running.” Donnie Greiner Senior / Davenport, IA Major: Exercise Science Minor: Psychology Likes: video games, drawing, weightlifting, nature Dislikes: laziness What’s your secret to athletic success? “Commitment and becoming a scholar of my sport. I research and study block starts, form, and anything surrounding my sport. The moment my practice day/meet day/etc. starts, I focus on it hard.” What motivates you? “I hold onto grudges and will not ever allow expectations or people to stop me from doing great things.” Why do you compete? “I compete because I am motivated to beat all expectations of myself.” More information about these Rams and their teammates can be found at https://cornellrams.com/index.aspx. Features cornell athleticscornell collegecornell college cross countrycornell college men’s track and fieldcornell college men’s track rostercornell college men’s track teamcornell college trackcornell college women’s track and fieldcornell college women’s track teamcornell college xccornell college xctfcornell ramscornell rams athleticscornell rams track and fieldcornell rams xctfcornell sportscornell track rosterdiii track and fieldtrack and field