Kathryn Rivard-Lentz '18 Recruiting Profile

I realized I loved running when I was 6 years old and my favorite part of t-ball practice was the end when I could race the boys to the outfield fence.  I began running 5k races at nine years old and then started participating on my school cross country team in sixth grade. People often ask me if I ever get tired of running or say I am crazy for doing three seasons of running sports; but I see it as something that keeps me motivated and happy, as well as an activity I truly enjoy doing. I love being part of a team, as well as learning from an array of different coaches. With every coach, I am able to learn something different, which has been extremely valuable in running, as well as other aspects of my life, such as academics.

I am very driven and focused in school. I have taken six AP classes throughout high school, in addition to many honors classes. In all of these classes, I am always striving to do my best and perform to my full potential. I love to learn, especially about brain development, behavior, and mental health, hence my interest in psychology.  I hope to someday pursue a graduate degree in forensic psychology and eventually do research on abnormal psychology and criminal behavior. This drive to succeed that I exhibit doesn’t just exist in the classroom, but also on the track, trails, and road. I do my best to put all my effort not only into every practice and race, but also into building relationships within my team.  

Through running on a middle school and high school cross country teams, I discovered my ability to be a leader, motivator, and role-model to my peers.  It was an honor to be chosen by my coach to be the sole captain of both the girls and boys cross country team, but I was nervous about the responsibility required when I was first asked, not envisioning that I would be the only captain of the entire team.  Coach commented to me at the end of the season that he viewed me as an assistant coach and someone who made the team a cohesive and fun team.  I realized that I had the ability to both be a friend and leader, both strict with the workouts and flexible when necessary, and both competitive and supportive of my teammates.

Throughout most of high school I have struggled with shin splints, resulting in me often having trouble running or needing to be put in physical therapy. During my junior year, I felt discouraged that my times were slower than in my sophomore year due to this injury, however I persisted and learned that I am committed and can overcome disappointing obstacles. I went to a new physical therapist the summer before my senior year.  The therapy addressed the source of my problem- my hips- instead of the symptoms- my shins.  A couple weeks prior to the start of my senior cross country season, I was cleared to begin running again.  Although my season wasn’t what I had hoped for, I feel confident that my problem has been correctly addressed and I can continue to improve in the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. I also feel very motivated and confident that I can continue to develop into a better athlete with college-level training and coaching.  I am quite excited by the possibility of competing at the college level.