Katy Clausen
Desert Vista High School
Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?
A: I'm currently building my running mileage back up as I just finished my championship season for swimming. I've also been biking and working on strength training.
Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?
A: Online school keeps me pretty busy as well as hiking with my dog and being outside.
Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?
A: My most memorable race moment was qualifying for Arcadia after a week of running after taking a few months off from training to focus on my swimming. I felt something in that mile at Chandler Rotary that helped me go for that time.
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
A: Running through trails with my team and almost stepping on a rattlesnake my first year here.
Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
A: Probably my teammate and running partner, Olivia Thatcher. We just always push each other in practice and in meets and usually end up matching strides. She's pushed me to be where I am today and I'm lucky to have such a good training partner.
(2019) Desert Solstice Race - Katy placed 4th overall.
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
A: Probably finding the perfect program for me in college. I am competing for Arizona State for Triathlon for the next four years which is something I'm so excited and grateful for.
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
A: I would have advocated more for myself being a dual-sport athlete with the coaching changes I had during high school.
(2018) AIA Division 1 Girls' XC State Championship - Katy placed 10th overall.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: Definitely having many different coaches throughout high school and training for two sports at the same time. I also ended my last two cross country seasons with a stress fracture and pneumonia which made me have to sit out for a while which was really tough at the time.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: Definitely my teammates. They pushed me through some early mornings and tough workouts and races. They mean the world to me and I appreciate everything they have done for me.