Anna Jeffcoat of Rogers XC Senior Sendoff


What was your most memorable meet and why?

My most memorable meet was a the Huntsville Invitational. Although it was a fairly small meet and I was pacing girls, it was the race that meant the most to me. I got to help my teammates see they have the abilities to accomplish anything they set their mind to. It was the most fun I have had at a meet and it was an encouraging meet for everyone there. I took a lot out of it.

Where did you face your biggest competition?

I think I faced my biggest competition at Nike Cross Regionals South. The field consisted of 425 extremely talented girls and each one of them had a goal to run a great race.

Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most and why?

The one that stands out the most to me was finishing 23rd at Nike Regionals. This one stands out the most to me because the mud was very challenging to work through. In previous races this year with lots of mud, I did not have anywhere close to my best races so coming in 23rd was really awesome for me because I did not think I was even in the top 50 before the race.

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

I would change my mindset my freshman and sophomore year because those first two years I had just really gotten into cross country and wasn't quite sure what it consisted of.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

The most difficult obstacles I have overcome have been my hamstring injury my junior year and my mindset about running in my freshman and sophomore years.

What will you miss the most?

I will most certainly miss my team atmosphere from this last year. We have really bonded and become much more than teammates. They have given me some of the best memories.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?

I would say to not worry too much about the bad races and enjoy the tough workouts. The bad races tend to teach you a lot, and even on your worst days there is still someone who wishes they could run how you did. The tough workouts make you the best runner you can be, and how you handle both of these situations help you grow a lot as a runner mentally.

What are your post-high school or college plans?

Next year I will be running track and field and cross country and the University of Central Arkansas. At UCA I plan to become an Occupational Therapist that works with special needs.

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to thank my family first for always supporting me and believing in me. I would also like to thank my teammates for giving me some of the best memories and making my last season the most memorable one. Lastly I would like to thank my coaches for convincing me to give cross country a try and for always giving me their best so I could be where I am today.