Carli Etrick is a freshman biology major with a pre-dental concentration.She was born in Melbourne,FL and completed three years of track and field and two years of cross country at Melbourne High School. She was named to the 2017 All-Cape Coast Conference cross country team and set a cross country 5K personal best of 19:46:48 at the 2017 FSHSAA Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.
What got you into cross-country and track?
“I only started three years ago. When I was a sophomore I did track and I did cross-country my junior year. I always played soccer but I started to shy away from that and I wanted to just focus on running.”
What interested you in cross-country?
“I would say the fact that it is your own success and you still have a team. That’s the biggest positive [takeaway] from this sport. It’s your own success whether you do good or bad and that’s all on you and no one can take that from you, in a way.”
What is your support system when you have a long day?
“My teammates for sure. We clicked very easily early on since there are a lot of freshman on the team. My teammates always got me through, even in high school.
How does NSU compare to the team you had in high school?
“In high school it was less serious. Here [at NSU] everyone has the same goal and we will always pick each other up when we get off track. We always have each other to lean on.”
What is your go-to thing to do after a big run?
“I eat a lot. I have a big sweet tooth so I love eating cookies and other sweets after. I also like to hang out with friends or teammates to celebrate or just relax and have fun.
What made you choose NSU?
“I always wanted to go here since freshman year. I wanted to stay in-state for sure because I can’t handle the cold. I like the academic offerings which is why I ultimately picked NSU. It’s the perfect division for me to run in and get better with my coaches and teammates.”
How has your transition to college, as a freshman, been so far?
“It hasn’t been too bad. I did dual-enrollment in high school so it hasn’t been too difficult academic wise. Being in-state helps, I still travel home in the weekends. The biggest [challenge] is being on my own officially, for the first time ad trying to figure things on my own.”
How do you balance academics and the sport as a student athlete?
“It’s definitely hard at times like today I had two tests which was stressful. But time management is a really important thing, which I feel like I’m getting the hang of. My classes so far are challenging but they are going to be worth it in the end.”
Any pre-run superstitions?
“I always pray before I run and I have a lucky sports bra that I have to wear. A lot of people don’t know this but I have to crack all my toes before I run”
What are some of your hobbies?
“I’m a total beach girl and I like shopping. I like to try out new restaurants and new food. I don’t travel as much as I’d like to but in the future I would love to do that one day.”
What are some of your future goals?
“My main focus is to go to graduate school and go to a specialty school to become an orthodontist. I want to travel but I still want to live in Florida. My family is from Melbourne and I would really like to stay near them if that is possible.”
