Growing up all I wanted to do was play every sport I could; and more importantly, I wanted to win at everything I did.

This competitive drive led me to be pretty successful in most things I did through a lot of hard work and personal desire to be the best. God blessed me with a tremendous amount of success at a young age, ranging from state titles to a national title. This began to make me want to chase a dream of going to a huge Power 5 school across the country, forging my own path somewhere as far away as I could. That was the plan all the way up until the official visits began. I took my visits to the Power 5 school, sat at midfield of a 100,000+ full stadium for a football game, and took photos in all the newest gear. Something was missing for me when I continued to take visits. I realized I did not want to go across the country, and I felt like I needed that school that provided me with the things I needed: support and competition. Little did I know that Eastern had it all.

I had never thought about Eastern as an option; not due to the lack of any accomplishments (because we have them!), but rather because there was a lack of precedent for Kentucky runners to come to Richmond. I ultimately found Eastern to be a no brainer when it came down to what school will provide me with the best opportunity to be as good as I want to be. What I did not know was the overwhelming support the community, staff, and people of Eastern had to give us athletes. I found comfort in the small, tightknit community - a family that Eastern is.

I also find great pride in not being the first athlete in my family to be a Colonel. My grandmother, Carmel Kessler (Hines) and my mom, Carolyn Thornsberry (Kessler) were the first Colonel athletes in my family. My grandma played field hockey here from 1968-71 and my mom was on the dance team here from 1992-96. I have had aunts and uncles come through Eastern. My older sister, Kaylee, currently works in the athletics department, and my younger brother, Garrett, is on the football team at Eastern.

I was fortunate enough to attend a high school in a very close community in the south end of Louisville that also embodied the same family-like atmosphere. It was a very small school (250 kids total) and we did not have all of the flash that some of the larger schools had; however, the support did not lack. I gravitated towards Eastern as the support was similarly undeniable.

Being a Kentucky kid, I take extreme pride in being able to represent my home state at the highest of levels. This season we, at one point, were ranked 15th in the NCAA, won our second straight ASUN title, and finished 2nd in one of the toughest regions in the country to qualify for the NCAA championships. While we did not have the day we had worked for at NCAA's, I do know it is just the beginning for this program as we head into indoor and outdoor track season. I hope to continue to represent my home state at the highest of levels and I have the fullest confidence that here at Eastern Kentucky University, I can be as great as I want to be. I will always be proud to be a Colonel and am confident that this school was the best place I could have chosen.