Name: Emily Crall
School: Desert Vista
Signed with: University of New Mexico
How do you decide to sign with New Mexico? What made you want to pay UNM a visit?
I had been looking at a large number of schools and took into account academics, location, cross country teams, coaches, and training. UNM has everything I want academically.
I got in contact with the New Mexico coaches over the summer leading into my senior year and learned about their program, their coaches and what they want for their program. My family was going to vacation in Colorado over the summer and we would be driving through Albuquerque to get there. We planned an unofficial visit and that is when I met Coach Bowerman for the first time. She showed me all over the campus and the facilities and I was really able to learn what it would be like to run for New Mexico. After this visit I knew that I would definitely want to get back out to Albuquerque during the school year for an official visit and meet the team and see what the school was like in session.
What were some of the other schools you were investigating?
Providence College, University of Tulsa, Penn State, Boise State, Syracuse University, Northern Arizona, Georgetown, Mississippi State.
How do you fit in with Coach Franklin's vision and is there something about his coaching philosophy that sticks out to you?
Coach Franklin believes in long term development and slowly progressing his athletes through aerobic development. This is something that I was looking for in a program and it is also a very similar belief and approach that my coaches at Desert Vista take. Coach Franklin also believes in creating a very productive training environment with the right people because whether you are the fastest runner or number 16 runner, everyone trains together and each person contributes to the training atmosphere which impacts each person on the team.
What draws you academically to UNM? Have you decided on a major you want to pursue?
I have been interested in the criminal justice system for a long time and I am very excited to be be majoring in and studying Criminology next year!
You've been very blessed to run for Desert Vista, and compete at the national level. What will miss most about your teammates?
The girls that I run with are not just my teammates, they are my best friends. We train together, cook together, hike together, we do everything together. I'm going to miss our constant camaraderie, but I am sure we will stay in contact when each of us leave. I'll miss training with them every day but I know we are all headed off to great places that are all uniquely right for each of us. I also will be seeing quite a few of them at meets when we are all in college and that will be very fun.
Did you make friends with any current or future Lady Lobos?
When I was on my official visit, I met almost all of the girls on the team. I ate all of my meals with them and got to spend good time and see what their day to day lives were like from training, classes, study hall and trips to the academic advisor and trainers. We all went to the Balloon Fiesta together and that was a really great experience to see a different side of everyone outside of running and school. I actually just signed a lease for where I'll be living next year and I am very excited because I'll be sharing a suite with Alex Buck who is in her first year at New Mexico right now. We've spent a bit of time over phone and I am really looking forward to living with her and getting to know her even better next year!
What is something you still want to accomplish before you graduate high school?
I want to stay healthy and make the very best of my last high school track season and most importantly set myself up for a great summer and fall running for the Lobos.
