by Arielle Andres
| Kayla Pratt |
Freshman Kayla Pratt has emerged as one of the top runners on the UTSA women’s cross country team in her first season. The Comstock High School product has finished as the Roadrunners’ No. 2 runner in four meets, including a fourth-place effort at the Texas State Invitational, and was named Southland Conference co-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 2 along with junior Dana Mecke after the pair won the UTSA Opener. Pratt recently took time out of her busy schedule to chat with goUTSA.com about why she chose UTSA, her transition from high school to college running and what she expects of herself by the time she is a senior.
Why did you choose UTSA?
“Honestly, UTSA was my first and only choice. Number one, family is very important to me, so I wanted to go somewhere that was relatively close to home. Number two, I had this gut feeling telling me that UTSA was where I was supposed to be. It was just this unexplainable feeling, and I’m glad I followed my heart because UTSA is everything I could have hoped for.”
What do you like most about being on the cross country team?
“I would have to say that there is great team unity and the coaches are great. The practices are good and everything else as a whole has given me a really good experience.”
What has the transition from a Class 1A high school to a Division I university been like for you?
“It was definitely a big transition from a small school to a D-1 collegiate level program. The training and all the facilities are so much bigger and this is a rather large campus. I graduated in a class size of about 20, so the size of this campus took a while to get used to. I believe that you have to have set goals to overcome any kind of adversity, and my goals have helped me adapt to this setting to accomplish them.”
The first week in your collegiate career you were honored as Southland Conference co-Athlete of the Week. Describe what it felt like to receive such an honor so early in the season.
“When I was awarded, I felt that it was not just me; it was Dana, too. I know that if I had not been on the relay team with Dana that would not have happened. I’m just grateful to have such a great teammate who serves as a great example for all of us. Without her, I would not have been blessed with that honor. I use that to glorify God in that it was a great accomplishment He helped us with and I hope to receive it again.”
At the Walt Disney World Classic the whole team did amazing, but you personally finished 16th out of 353 competitors. How did it feel going to Florida and doing so well against so many different schools?
“I was so excited and amazed to even participate in that meet. Just the mere thought of going to a meet at Disney World is amazing. I went on the course and did the best I could to represent UTSA, my team and God, and I ended up getting 16th out of over 350 runners. You always say you could have done better or could have run faster, but I just try to do my best each day.”
What’s on your mind during these long races, and how do you mentally make it through a 5k race?
“Well, at the gunshot I just start off trying to get ahead and stay with Dana. When she starts to pull away, I try and pace myself until the finish line. I run for God’s glory and that helps me through it to finish as best as I can.”
By the time you are a senior, what mark would you have wanted to leave on the program and how will you influence those younger than you?
“I would definitely like to be a positive role model and influence on the younger runners as Dana has been on me. I would like to accomplish enough for people to remember who I was. Not necessarily for me winning a lot of awards or races, but remember that I had good character and always tried my best in academics and athletics.”