Salute To Seniors: Emily Perkinson - Colonial High School



What was your most memorable race?

My most memorable race would have to be cross country districts my senior year because not only did both the boys and girls teams win first place, but  I placed second place as an individual. Districts gave me the confidence to perform my best at regionals the next week while also showing that all the hard work and dedication I put into this sport was paying off.

Who would you consider your biggest completion over your four years?

I would consider my teammates my biggest competition. When you run with the same people every day for four years, your teammates become your best friends, which can make you extremely competitive.

What was your greatest accomplishment?

No doubt, qualifying for the Cross Country State Finals was my biggest accomplishment. After missing qualifying for state my junior year by one place, qualifying my senior year was one of the best feelings in the world.

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

I would not change anything about my high school running career. Though I had a slightly disappointing senior track season, it will motivate me to be a better running in the future.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

I had a lot of injuries over my four years. Running on some injuries, and even not running on injuries to allow time to heal, is defiinitely one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome.

What will you miss the most?

I will miss my teammate the most. Your team becomes your family and it will be so hard to leave these girls who I love so much.

What advice would I give to younger athletes?

I would tell younger athletes to just never give up. If you work hard at anything, you can excel, and that goes for everything, not just athletics!

What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

No words can effectively describe the influence Coach P. has had on me as an athlete and person. Coach P. is obviously an amazing coach (Coaching the Colonial boys’ team to two consecutive state titles!) He has coached me to be the best I can be on the track and off.

What are your college plans?

I plan to attend Florida Gulf Coast University and run on their cross country and track team.

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to thank my teammates and coaches for everything that they have done for me. I would especially like to thank my twin sister Catherine, for being my best friend and for putting up with me during the stressful seasons we’ve had together.

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Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: TGrasley@milesplit.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the class of 2013 on all their hard work and success.