Amy Adams is a junior on the Cassopolis cross country team.

What has been one of your greatest accomplishments as an athlete?

AA: Qualifying for state in the two-mile in track my sophomore year was definitely a huge accomplishment for me, because I am the first female athlete to go to state for the two-mile from Cassopolis.

What has been one of your biggest disappointments as an athlete?

AA: So far this year, I have not been able to get my 5k time back down to the 21 minute range for cross country. This has been disappointing, because this year I ran over the summer which I haven’t done much before, and my goal time for this year is about 20 minutes. I am still working towards it, but my progress has been minimal.

What has been a hardship in your life?

AA: I have had a blessed life, but the hardest thing I have had to deal with has been my perfectionism. I am often much harder on myself than I need to be, which leads to unnecessary stress.

Who is a “hero” in your life and why?

AA: I would have to say that besides God, my parents are my biggest heroes. They have always been highly supportive of me. They come to almost all of my games and meets. My parents are also great people in general. They live to help others, which is something that I really admire about them.

When are you the most nervous while you are competing?

AA: I am most nervous before races of high importance like regionals.

Describe an embarrassing athletic moment.

AA: One year, I tried to race my horse in barrels at the fair. Instead of running, he decided to buck the whole way in front of many of my friends and family.

How do you tend to work out/train when by yourself?

AA: Over the summer, I decided that I would try to run at least six days a week while focusing mainly on distance. Now I am continuing my training on the weekends outside of team practices, concentrating on running, but occasionally doing some core and basic strength training.

What other sport would you like to compete in if you were not playing yours?

AA: If it were available to me I might have tried swimming or climbing, but I am perfectly happy with the sports I am playing now. I haven’t really thought about playing anything else before.

Why are sports an important part of a high school experience?

AA: Sports are an important part of high school, because they allow students to grow and form relationships that they might not have otherwise. Sports are a way for students to push themselves harder than they would have ever imagined.

How would you give away $50,000?

AA: I would try to spread the money out so I could do the most good for the most people. A good way to do this could be through random acts of kindness as I felt led by God.

If you could be the head coach of a team for a year, what team would you choose?

AA: I don’t often watch sports, so if I were to be the head coach of a team I would choose my own cross country or track team. If I was the track coach, I would only coach the distance runners though.

If I did not play sports, I would…?

AA: If I did not play sports, I would probably be more involved in the arts, especially music.

What is the most challenging thing for you to do in your sport?

AA: As far as running goes, I have a hard time pushing myself enough in the middle of my races. For soccer, playing positions in the center of the field can be quite challenging; however, I often find myself in these positions.

If you could change one rule about your sport, what would it be?

AA: In both track and cross country I would like a more equal way to qualify for state. Currently, some regions are much tougher than others which makes it somewhat unfair for some of the runners in the tougher regions.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?

AA: One of the best compliments I have ever received came when the parents of some of our middle school cross country runners informed me that their daughters look up to me. They told me that I have been a good role model for them.

What was the scariest thing you have had to do? Are you glad you did it?

AA: The scariest thing I’ve done has been trying to make plans for my future. I am still unsure of what I want to do with my life which is scary, because I don’t want to waste time and money on something that I am not passionate about.

What was the last thing you saw someone do that really impressed you?

At our last cross country meet, I watched one of our middle school runners finish her race after having rolled her ankle. She was in a lot of pain, but she kept pushing through it and finished her race strong.

What is your favorite hobby? Why?

AA: Lately one of my favorite things to do has been cooking my own meals and experimenting with new, healthy recipes. I have always enjoyed helping my mom and grandma in the kitchen, and eating healthier has been one of my goals for a long time.

Choose one word to describe yourself:

AA: Dedicated.