Emily Weber won the Dellinger Invitational on Sept. 16.
Photo by: Oregon State Athletics
10 Questions with Emily Weber
September 23, 2016 | Women's Cross Country
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Emily Weber wasn't even sure she would run in the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Sept. 16. The senior from Salem didn't feel 100 percent ready earlier in the week and wasn't sure if she would enter what would be her first meet of the season.
However, late in the week she decided to compete in the 5,000-meter race at the Springfield Country Club. That choice paid huge dividends for the South Salem High School graduate, as she took first place for her first victory since winning a 'B' heat in track as a freshman.
The Sept. 30 Notre Dame Invitational is the next race for the three-time Pacific-12 Conference all-academic selection, a member of the honor roll in every semester since she enrolled at OSU in Sept., 2012, after a standout career with the Saxons. She expects to graduate in June, 2017, with a BS in kinesiology and psychology.
What was your race strategy at the Bill Dellinger Invitational?
EW: "Kelly [coach Sullivan] said I should just relax and go off of feel, since it was my first cross country race in a while. Don't go out too fast, go based on effort, not on time; don't go to the front in the beginning, just work your way up. I stayed toward the back, worked my way up, and kept an even pace. I didn't want to go out too hard and blow up in the beginning."
How exciting was it to win a race for the first time since high school?
EW: "It definitely felt good. It gave me a lot of confidence going into the season, confidence that Kelly definitely knows what he is doing and that he is an amazing coach. It gave me a sense of being able to buy in, and trust 100 percent."
What is the potential of this year's cross country team?
EW: "In our team workouts we are all [running] together. It gives me confidence that we are all going to be fighting for the top spot, we all are at the same place right now and that is exciting to see. It's exciting to be excited about my teammates. I am confident it's going to be an amazing team. The sky is the limit for this season."
What has been your favorite moment as an OSU athlete?
EW: "Definitely being with my teammates. I've lived with them I came here … the camaraderie and relationships have been the most fun part. Everybody is so supportive, and we all support each other."
Your father (Larry) is an OSU graduate. Have you always wanted to be a Beaver? What is your first memory of OSU?
EW: "I remember going to my first football game here, and my dad telling me, 'Oh, I lived in this dorm,' and it got me really excited, thinking that maybe I will go to Oregon State one day. Once I got into high school and in to running, I thought maybe one day I could run in college but I had sort of discounted OSU, I was looking at other schools. Then I met with Kelly, and then the decision was pretty clear that I would be coming to OSU."
You missed the entire 2015 cross country season.
EW: "It was more taking time for myself to mentally decompress. There was a lot of stress last year and I was taking a break mentally and physically from running so I could get healthy again. It was just a break."
How hard was it to miss a season of competition?
EW: "It was definitely hard because I love competing. But it felt good to take last fall off because I knew I was in a healthier spot, and was working my way up into mileage and getting healthier mentally and physically. It was frustrating to be on the sidelines but it was exciting to watch my teammates to well, and to support them. There were two sides to it. I was frustrated, but I was excited at the same time to get healthy so I could compete in track. Short-term sacrifice, for a long-term benefit."
Cross country and track athletes do not have a specific jersey number, like players in other sports. If you could choose a number, what would it be, and why?
EW: "For some reason I like odd numbers, I don't know why. So I would probably pick 17. For some reason l have always liked that number. It's just kind of random."
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
EW: "Definitely Oahu. I've had a lot of good memories there. I went there with my grandfather; he's no longer living but I just remember that as a really good time with my family."
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
EW: "Hopefully I will be coaching and/or be a sports psychologist, wherever life takes me. I am applying for graduate school at a couple places on the East Coast and the West Coast so I don't know where I'm going to be. I hope to help other athletes overcome mental barriers and to just be involved in athletics. Because I am very passionate about it."
For more information on the Oregon State track and field program, follow the Beavers on Facebook at Facebook.com/OSUTrackCrossCountry, or on Twitter at twitter.com/@BeaverTrackXC
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
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However, late in the week she decided to compete in the 5,000-meter race at the Springfield Country Club. That choice paid huge dividends for the South Salem High School graduate, as she took first place for her first victory since winning a 'B' heat in track as a freshman.
The Sept. 30 Notre Dame Invitational is the next race for the three-time Pacific-12 Conference all-academic selection, a member of the honor roll in every semester since she enrolled at OSU in Sept., 2012, after a standout career with the Saxons. She expects to graduate in June, 2017, with a BS in kinesiology and psychology.
What was your race strategy at the Bill Dellinger Invitational?
EW: "Kelly [coach Sullivan] said I should just relax and go off of feel, since it was my first cross country race in a while. Don't go out too fast, go based on effort, not on time; don't go to the front in the beginning, just work your way up. I stayed toward the back, worked my way up, and kept an even pace. I didn't want to go out too hard and blow up in the beginning."
How exciting was it to win a race for the first time since high school?
EW: "It definitely felt good. It gave me a lot of confidence going into the season, confidence that Kelly definitely knows what he is doing and that he is an amazing coach. It gave me a sense of being able to buy in, and trust 100 percent."
What is the potential of this year's cross country team?
EW: "In our team workouts we are all [running] together. It gives me confidence that we are all going to be fighting for the top spot, we all are at the same place right now and that is exciting to see. It's exciting to be excited about my teammates. I am confident it's going to be an amazing team. The sky is the limit for this season."
What has been your favorite moment as an OSU athlete?
EW: "Definitely being with my teammates. I've lived with them I came here … the camaraderie and relationships have been the most fun part. Everybody is so supportive, and we all support each other."
Your father (Larry) is an OSU graduate. Have you always wanted to be a Beaver? What is your first memory of OSU?
EW: "I remember going to my first football game here, and my dad telling me, 'Oh, I lived in this dorm,' and it got me really excited, thinking that maybe I will go to Oregon State one day. Once I got into high school and in to running, I thought maybe one day I could run in college but I had sort of discounted OSU, I was looking at other schools. Then I met with Kelly, and then the decision was pretty clear that I would be coming to OSU."
You missed the entire 2015 cross country season.
EW: "It was more taking time for myself to mentally decompress. There was a lot of stress last year and I was taking a break mentally and physically from running so I could get healthy again. It was just a break."
How hard was it to miss a season of competition?
EW: "It was definitely hard because I love competing. But it felt good to take last fall off because I knew I was in a healthier spot, and was working my way up into mileage and getting healthier mentally and physically. It was frustrating to be on the sidelines but it was exciting to watch my teammates to well, and to support them. There were two sides to it. I was frustrated, but I was excited at the same time to get healthy so I could compete in track. Short-term sacrifice, for a long-term benefit."
Cross country and track athletes do not have a specific jersey number, like players in other sports. If you could choose a number, what would it be, and why?
EW: "For some reason I like odd numbers, I don't know why. So I would probably pick 17. For some reason l have always liked that number. It's just kind of random."
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
EW: "Definitely Oahu. I've had a lot of good memories there. I went there with my grandfather; he's no longer living but I just remember that as a really good time with my family."
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
EW: "Hopefully I will be coaching and/or be a sports psychologist, wherever life takes me. I am applying for graduate school at a couple places on the East Coast and the West Coast so I don't know where I'm going to be. I hope to help other athletes overcome mental barriers and to just be involved in athletics. Because I am very passionate about it."
For more information on the Oregon State track and field program, follow the Beavers on Facebook at Facebook.com/OSUTrackCrossCountry, or on Twitter at twitter.com/@BeaverTrackXC
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
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