Salute To Seniors: Lauren Gonzalez - Ferguson

 

Salute To Seniors: Lauren Gonzalez - Ferguson

 
 
What was your most memorable race?
 
Entering my senior cross-country season, I did not know what to expect. As the season was rapidly coming to an end I was extremely anxious for the state meet. Being ranked 8th coming into the state meet was unrealistic to me, but I sought to place top 5. Not only did I achieve placing top five, as I placed fourth as an individual, but placed second collectively as a team losing by a mere two points. This race was not only memorable because It meant I dropped more than 30 seconds within the season but achieved standing on the podium, not once, but twice among some of the most dedicated, and hard working girls I know, my team.

What would you consider your biggest competition?

The state meet for both cross-country and track and field showed me as an individual the amount of talent Florida has. As cross-country was the most agonizing, since three teams, including our self’s (Plant, St. Thomas) each fought for that one spot on the podium. Till the last moments of the race, no one knew who got it. All three teams were within points of one another. Even though we did not win the State Championship the highest we had ever placed was 9th, meaning we had one heck of a season.

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

My greatest high school accomplishment will have to be the two fourth place finishes as an individual in both cross-country and track and field (3200 meter run). Though both were great, my fourth place finish in track was more impacting. This was my first year even making it out of the district for anything in track. So to be both district and region champion was an accomplishment within its self, let alone a fourth place finish at the state finals. It was not easy as track to me tends to be the other sport, but I dropped more than 45 seconds to do so.

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

I would most likely eat properly throughout all four years of high school, and take the term hydrate seriously. Most of all I would have tried my hardest from ninth to eleventh grade in track and field, as I thought you could perform just as great in one without the other. Even though sometimes runners have their own preference in certain events, I wish I would have pushed myself as hard as I did for cross-country even though I am not a huge fan of the track.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

During my sophomore year I had to deal with multiple injuries from groin impingements on both sides to hip impingements. The main cause of this I believe was not properly stretching and having weak bones due to the lack of calcium within my diet. After jogging through my State meet in Cross-Country I examined both impingements and went through physical therapy. But most importantly I started to drink milk. This definitely made a difference in not only my injury but my body. I now drink a glass of milk every morning and after I run.
 
What will you miss the most?

There are a countless number of things I will miss from waiting for that bell to ring at 2:20 to go to practice, to pranking my coach Ryan Raposo with my team mates. My team will definitely be one of the biggest aspects of high school I will miss. Growing up with many and watching others grow has been something I will cherish for my lifetime. The boys and girls on my team not only are hardworking, and passionate for the sport, but hold almost every drop of sweat, tears, and laughter I have ever experienced. Without them I would have not been the runner I am today. They are one of my biggest supporters no matter what may happen, and I can always count on them to make me smile.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes? 

Some advice I would like to give to younger athletes is to never settle for anything less then what you believe you can do.  Never try to rush the abilities you have, you will be the runner you are meant to be with time. Even though sometimes the long hours of training or the deprivation of sleep may cause you to lose motivation, remember you are your biggest motivator, and don’t ever go into a race thinking you are anything less than anyone else.

What are your college plans?
 
I recently received a full scholarship to Florida International University. I am extremely excited to help make the program stronger then it has ever been and run collegiately among a great group of girls.

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to thank my parents for putting up with the long road trips and for continuously supporting me through the up’s and downs the sport brings. They are my number one fans and I can never fully thank them for being themselves, even if they can be pretty embarrassing at times, I love them with all my heart. Lastly I will like to thank my remarkable coach Ryan Raposo for everything he has done for both my family and I these last four years. He is like another part of the family to me and will always be one of my biggest role models. Raposo without you I would never be as successful as I am today. Who would have ever know I would accomplish so much. You truly are an amazing coach and I will miss you dearly.


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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 2012 on all their hard work and success.