Everyday Champion - Lorene Young
Junior Lorene Young of the Oregon State cross country and track team has already proven her determination and excellence as a student-athlete. A four year letter winner in cross country and track in high school, Lorene Young set new personal bests last year in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meter races. She also has improved by over a minute in every race from the year before. Young took a moment to talk about her successes and hard work on and off the track.
Q. Talk about the opportunity to be running competitively in college.
“It is such a wonderful opportunity to be running at OSU. Most people don't get a chance to run at the Division 1 Pac-10 level, but I entered the program right at the perfect time to do so. The staff provides a great resource to help me improve my running and I consider myself truly blessed to have the opportunity to run on this team.”
Q. How has being a part of Oregon State’s cross country and track team influenced you?
“I have such great teammates and a wonderful staff. Everyone who is part of the program has been great role models for me and has been extremely supportive. Being on this team has influenced me in positive ways. It has helped me to figure out it is okay to dream and believe in yourself, even when the odds may be against you. This program has taught me how much motivation and simple belief can do.”
Q. You used to dance. What style did you practice and are there any similarities between your two sports?
“I mainly practiced ballet and jazz, but also did tap for about five years. Being a dancer has taught me many life skills that have helped out with my running. From dance I have learned to be very disciplined, to take criticism well, and to be coachable.”
Q. Why did you choose to come to Oregon State?
“I loved Oregon State's campus and felt that Corvallis was a nice place and a great location. I wanted a school with a pre-physical therapy program and Oregon State just seemed to fit!”
Q. How did you decide to major in Exercise and Sport Science?
“From always being an active person I have an interest in the human body and how it recovers. I thought that Physical Therapy might be something I would like so I decided to major in Exercise and Sports Science with an option of pre-physical therapy.”
Q. What do you plan on doing with your degree?
“I have taken classes that do relate with running and sports. I have tried to apply some things I have learned from my sports psychology class, and I also think my classes help me to understand how important recovery is and why it helps.”
Q. Do you apply your studies to what you do as an athlete?
“I plan on going to Physical Therapy school after I am done with my undergrad, and after that being a Physical Therapist.”
Q. You have improved so much during your time at OSU. What does that mean to you, and what changes have you made to become a better athlete?
“My improvement does mean a lot to me. It is the result of my hard work and dedication. Improving so much does take some small lifestyle adjustments, such as always making sure to get solid hours of sleep each night, eating nutritious meals, hydrating, keeping the stress levels down, and focusing on recovering from practice just as much as focusing on the practice itself.
My improvement has taught me that if you try and follow your dreams you can accomplish what you used to think was impossible. Nothing comes overnight and it takes a ton of patience with yourself, but it can be done. My improvement has taught me to never say never. I thought I would never be running where I am right now, and I hope I get another chance to say those words all over again in the future.”
