Taco Bell Student-Athlete Spotlight
10/14/2011 5:15:00 PM | Track & Field/XC
Statesboro, Ga. - For Georgia Southern junior Sara Curry, sports have always been a big part of her life. Even though she runs cross country and track & field for the Eagles, running hasn't always been her primary sport.
"I started swimming year-round when I was six," said Curry. "Swimming was my main sport then. I didn't start running until right before my freshman year. My mom suggested that I run with the cross country team when our swim team was on a break. Now I'm a runner instead of a swimmer."
For first-year Head Coach Marlo Mincey, having someone with Curry's ability and experience has helped her develop a young stable of runners this season.
"With Sara, we always know that she's going to give her best out there and that's an example for the younger runners to follow," said Mincey. "Consistency is one of the things we try to coach. A consistent effort will result in lower times."
During her sophomore campaign as both a cross country runner and a distance runner on the track and field team, Curry broke several school records during the year. In track and field, she set University records in the 5,000 meter Run for indoor and outdoor seasons, recorded the two best times in school history in the 3,000 meter Run and set the University record in the 10,000 meter run during the outdoor season. Curry also owns the 4th and 5th best times in Georgia Southern Cross Country history for the 5K.
Balancing athletics with academics was also something Curry learned early in life.
"In high school I learned how to get the most out of my studying time. Even if I just had an hour available to study or get some homework done, I learned to take advantage of that time so that I didn't have to cram the night before a test or when a big assignment was due. It was also important to get as much rest as I could, to be ready to compete as well as maintain my grades."
Curry also likes to set time aside in her schedule to help others. She volunteers at Ogeechee Area Hospice where she works at the nurse's desk, sits with patients and helps out at the kids camp held once a year.
"I want to be an occupational therapist," said Curry. "I like the face-to-face interaction with people and being able to use the skills that I have to help them through what can be a challenging part of their life. It's fun and I really enjoy my time there."
The Georgia Southern Cross Country team will compete in its final regular season match tonight in Charlotte at the Royal Cross Country Challenge, before preparing for the Southern Conference Championships on October 29.
Major: Recreation with a therapeutic emphasis
Interests: Baking (and eating), camping, painting
Favorites:
Food: Ice cream
Movies: Despicable Me
Type of Music: Country
Athlete: Kara Goucher
Why did you choose to attend GSU? The closeness of the girls on the team, the location, and the campus.
What is your favorite memory so far as an Eagle? Last season when our conference championships were Easter weekend and we were unable to go home for the holidays, our coach set up an Easter egg hunt for the whole team to do together. Even though the eggs had no candy inside of them, it was the most fun (and definitely the most competitive) Easter egg hunt I have ever had.
What accomplishments are you most proud of? Even though our track team is really large, we all manage to be close with each other and encourage each other in all of our separate events.
What do you appreciate most about your team? How we encourage each other. Running can seem like an individual sport at times, but even in practice, we cheer each other through the finish on every mile repeat and interval workout no matter how many repetitions it is.
What are your goals for the upcoming season: As a team, we want to all come together at the conference championships on October 29th and record personal best times while working as a team to compete with the other schools.
What are your plans after college? I'd like to go to graduate school to get my master's degree in Occupational Therapy and be an occupational therapist in the hospital setting.
