University of Minnesota Athletics
Freshman Friday: Bit Klecker
10/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS -- Bit Klecker joined the Gopher women's cross country and track & field teams for the 2017-18 season as a 2017 graduate of Hopkins High School where she was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-section honoree in cross country and two-time all-conference, three-time all-section, and 2015 all-state honoree in track & field for the Royals.
The Hopkins, Minn., native reflects on how she began running, transitioning from high school to college, and choosing her major in graphic design.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Bit Klecker: All of my siblings did it, and I played soccer through the fall of seventh grade but I also did cross country that year. I tried it because all my siblings did it. I figured I might as well try it, so then I just kept doing it. I ended up liking cross country more than soccer.
GS: Do you like cross country or track & field more?
BK: I like cross country because it is very team oriented but I like racing track better.
GS: What's your favorite distance to race?
BK: Probably the mile or the two mile.
GS: How did you pick the University of Minnesota?
BK: Well, I really like Minneapolis, and I knew Minnesota has a good graphic design program, which is what I'm doing. I also liked how close the team was and how goal-oriented they are.
GS: How did your older sister, and current Gopher teammate, Sarah help you decide on Minnesota?
BK: Well, she just told me a lot about the University of Minnesota so I had a lot of good information about it. I would ask her more general things about the process like writing my application or deadlines, but she helped me get an inside view of the team but they were all positive things.
GS: What was it like growing up in a family full of runners?
BK: Well, a lot of our dinner conversations were only about running. But it was actually kind of fun because we all follow it together and support each other and everyone is very knowledgeable.
GS: What is your impression of college running so far?
BK: The workouts are a lot harder and, compared to my high school, there are so many more people on the team and people to run with. That has been one of my favorite parts -- having someone to run with everyday, and someone different to run with everyday.
GS: What has been the most challenging thing about the transition from high school to college running?
BK: Probably just pushing myself to be at the level of everyone else. You want to run with your teammates and everyone is so good that it pushes you to be better. It's a good challenge.
GS: How didi you become interested in graphic design?
BK: My photography teacher in high school pushed me into it because he knew I was more art-sided and he explained it to me and I thought it sounded cool. Sarah talked to me a little bit about it too so I thought it would be fun to try.
GS: How did you get into photography?
BK: Just by taking the class at my high school. The photography teacher was the Nordic skiing coach, so I knew him really well. He was very influential in my photography.
GS: Where is your favorite place to run in Minneapolis?
BK: The LRT regional trail that goes by Minnetonka.
GS: Do you have a favorite running mantra or motivational quote?
BK: This season it has been, "Stay in the fight." I don't really remember how I came up with it. I might have bounced it off something that Coach Hopkins said, but especially at Griak, I just wanted to stay in the fight.
GS: What has been your proudest accomplishment so far in your college career?
BK: I felt really good racing at UW-La Crosse and I PR'ed, which is always good. That was the first time that I felt really good during a cross country race, like how I feel in track. So, just by the way it felt and I felt more confident too.
GS: What are your goals for the rest of your freshman year, looking ahead to the track & field season, too?
BK: Improve on times, like in the 1500m if I run it, but also just get used to workouts and lifting and everything.
GS: How are your classes going and how do you like it so far on the academic side of things?
BK: They're good. I really like them because they're all about what I'm interested in. A lot of them are about graphic design. I just like that they're all art-based because that is what I'm interested in.
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