By  Benjamin E. Lykens (whetstone writer)

 

Tristan BurrisBenjamin E. Lykens/ Whetstone

Tristan Burris

Cross Country runner and senior Tristin Burris was recently named Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) runner of the week.

Burris has received this award four times in her career but said this time around she didn’t expect it at all.

“I’m a little surprised about it actually,” she said. “When the race started I wasn’t feeling very good at all, but once I started running, I kept telling myself that I had to just finish.”

Burris, a five-sport athlete, ultimately finished the Delaware State Invitational 5-kilometer race in eleventh place, at 21:05.89. She was the only Division III runner, among Division I and Division II competitors.

Burris said that she could have done better.

“It definitely wasn’t my best time by any means,” Burris said. “I’m trying to beat my time from last year.”

Burris’s time from last year was 19:31.

Burris has become accustomed to new track and field coach Steven Kimes. She said his enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport might take her and her teammates to the next level.

“Coach Kimes is very dedicated to us athletes,” Burris said. “He makes me want to work harder for him. It’s still early in the season but I’m excited to see how far he will take us and how much we will improve as a team.”

Kimes said it is Burris’s hard work that makes her such a great athlete.

“It’s a great honor for her and it shows the work that she put into her offseason,” Kimes said of the award. “She has great character and her desire to excel is top-notch.”

Kimes also said that Burris possesses a quality essential to every great athlete: she is coachable.

“I think that is part of her success,” Kimes said. “She makes an effort to understand what you’re trying to teach her.”

After college, Burris said that she will try her best to remain active.

“I’m going to keep running and do every single marathon that I can find,” she said.