Jenna Grogan
John Hardin
What was your most memorable meet and why?
My most memorable meet would have to be cross country state my junior year. I ran a course PR, as well as made the cross country podium for the first time ever. That moment will stick with me forever.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
I always faced my biggest competition each year at both the Class 2A Region 2 meet, as well as the state meet.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most and why?
Making the podium at state my junior year has been one of the most memorable accomplishments of all. I definitely had doubts about whether or not I could do it, and I just remember the joy it brought me when I crossed the finish line.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
If I could do my high school running career all over again, I would definitely change how hard I was on myself. Often times, if I ran a bad race, I would beat myself up over it for the rest of the day. I really just needed to take a step back and realize that that just wasn't my day, that I had plenty of other chances, and that it wasn't the end of the world.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I had to overcome the most difficult obstacle during my sophomore year. I was experiencing fatigue and often times, I could not finish the workouts. My coach became very concerned, and I started to think that I would not be able to run like I was ever again. However, after many trips to the doctor, my family and I discovered that my iron and ferritin levels were extremely low (which is common among female runners). Although we caught this early in the season and I began taking a supplement, sophomore season was still a flop, due to the amount of time that it takes for iron to build back up. To this day, I still have to be cautious of my iron levels.
What are your post-high school or college plans?
Following high school, I will be attending the University of the Cumberlands to continue both my athletic and academic careers. I plan to major in exercise science and minor in chemistry while following the pre-physical therapy pathway.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
First and for most, I would like to say thank you to my amazing parents. I cannot thank them enough, as they have travelled thousands of miles (literally) over the past eight years that I have been running. They have been so supportive and I could not ask for a better set of parents. I love you mom and dad! I would also like to thank my older sister who has also been extremely supportive over the past eight years. She never failed to show up and watch me race, when her college schedule allowed. Next, I would like to thank Coach Warsaw for taking the time to coach Savannah and I. Although practice could get frustrating, he never gave up on me, or stopped believing in me and my abilities. Finally, I want to thank my teammates, especially Savannah Hossfeld and Jackson Arel for always putting a smile on my face, being there for me, and supporting me throughout my senior year of cross country. You guys rock, and I don't know what I would have done without you this year! Shoutout to everyone else that supported me and encouraged me along the way!