Colorado State University Athletics
Getting to know CSU's Peters
10/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 15, 2009
As the Rams prepare to travel to Terre Haute, Ind., for Pre-Nationals Saturday, CSURams.com sat down with sophomore Nicole Peters to give Rams fans a chance to get to know her a little better.
Nicole Peters
Peter’s 19, who turns 20 on Oct. 30, is from Houston, Texas, where she was a star at Langham Creek High School. While at Langham Creek, she was named all-state three times for cross country, was named MVP of both cross country and track four times, and finished in the top five at the Houston Division 5A region meet all four years.
She proved to be a strong runner in her freshman season for the Rams, and is currently having a breakthrough season in her sophomore campaign. She has been a very consistent runner for the Rams, having her best race in the CSU classic, held at the Hughes Stadium grounds, where she finished second overall and recorded a team-best time of 18 minutes, 25.2 seconds.
On individual goals this season
"I want to make nationals as a team, but I also want to be able to qualify myself as well, so that is my ultimate goal. To qualify, you have to do pretty well in regionals; I probably have to finish in the top 20 somewhere.”
On favorite part of running cross country
"I like a challenge. It is more challenging to me than track because the courses aren’t just flat and in circles. Cross country has always been my favorite thing because I like long distance and it has a certain element of surprise when looking at the courses. No courses are the same, so you really have to be prepared mentally because not only do you have to race, but you have to worry about other factors like hills.”
On how the team has been preparing for pre-nationals this Saturday
"We have been focusing on working as a team, which is the most important thing. Ellie (Rastall), Kristen (Hemphill) and I have been working together and have been trying to keep a strong front group. To make it to nationals as a team, we really need to have a close-knit group and work together so we can get the best placing that we can.”
On what the team can work on to improve
"We can work on not leaving anything out on the course. We just need to put it all out there, be aggressive and don’t be timid. We need to make aggressive moves out on the course and not let people pass us. A major thing coach stresses is to not let anymore pass you in the last 800 meters, and so far this season I have been focused on that and haven’t let anyone pass me.”
On her role as a leader on a young team
"I’ve been placing second on the team in most of the races this year, so I think I can bring certain leadership aspects. The girls look up to people who are focused and work hard in practice and I think I do those things.”
On Future of the team
"We have all been through the hard times and good times together and, because we are so young, I think it will only benefit us physically and mentally for future races to come.”
On her family and hometown Houston and differences from Colorado
"I usually go back (to Houston) for Christmas and actually only went back for a month this summer because I wanted to get back here and train in altitude with Ellie. It was a really important thing for me to do this summer, and I am really glad that I did it.
"In Houston the only place I can run is on my neighborhood streets, so it gets really boring. In high school no one took cross country that seriously, so I basically trained by myself for four years, and now, being here, I feel so blessed to be with a team who has as much determination and motivation as I do.
"I would much rather be in Colorado because Houston’s humidity kills you. If you go out for a 10-mile run and come back, it looks like you jumped in a pool, it’s disgusting (laughing). I really like it up here; the atmosphere, the mountains and the weather, I think it is beautiful.”
On random fact people might not know about her
"I’m afraid of flying. We fly a lot, so I’m very happy we are driving to Provo, Utah (for the Mountain West championships). When we fly I usually just squeeze someone’s hand to get through it.”