University of Minnesota Athletics
Freshman Friday: Tate Sweeney
9/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- Edina, Minn., native Tate Sweeney joined the Maroon & Gold this fall following a standout career at Edina High School where she was a three-sport letterwinner in cross country, track & field, and Nordic skiing for the Hornets.
For Sweeney, the University of Minnesota checked all the right boxed -- it's close to home, has great academics for the future elementary school teacher, and the cross country and track & field program is large in numbers with friendly individuals who love running but take a balanced approach to training and school.
GopherSports.com caught up with Sweeney to learn how she first got into running, how she chose elementary education as an intended major, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Tate Sweeney: I did it in elementary school because after we did the mile, my gym teacher gave me a letter saying I made it to a meet with all of the elementary schools in the area. I think I did well there, but I did not think anything of it. But, my gym teacher kept pushing me. Then seventh grade came around. My sister, who is two years older than me, had signed up for cross country, and I decided I would try it because I got a letter from the coach. I came back ever since because I really liked it.
GS: Did you play any other sports while you were growing up?
TS: I did Nordic skiing in the winter, and then I did soccer and basketball until seventh grade. I played through seventh grade, but it just got to be too much and I didn't like it enough.
GS: Do you consider yourself more of a cross country or a track runner?
TS: I think track just because I am definitely more speed-sided, but I enjoy it, too.
GS: How did you pick the University of Minnesota?
TS: Meeting the girls and getting to know everyone on the team, they all seemed really well-rounded. They all really enjoy running but know that academics are really important, too. I really liked the big team aspect because my teams have always been big. I love having a bunch of people around and seeing how all the different personalities fit together. I didn't realize that this was something I was going to like, but I do really like how close it is to home. I'm really close with my family, and my sister goes here, too. It's a good academic school, too, so everything really clicked.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in?
TS: I think I want to major in elementary education, but I don't know specifically what grade yet. I also am considering high school as well. I knew I wanted to work with people because I really like working with people, and I wanted to do something that affected the community in a positive way. At first I thought maybe nursing and helping people ease their pain, but I can't see blood and I can't see needles so I quickly crossed that off. My mom was an elementary school teacher, and she thought that I would be interested in it. This past spring, I shadowed an elementary school teacher, who happened to be Matt Gabrielson, my high school cross country coach, and I really, really liked it.
GS: Where is your favorite place to run in Minneapolis?
TS: Probably for an easy run, Hyland Park in Bloomington. It's hilly, but it's also really easy on your legs. It's a good workout, and it's so pretty, especially in the fall.
GS: What do you like to do to get psyched up to race?
TS: Well, I like to talk, and I talk when I'm nervous. I like to talk to my teammates and the other girls I know from other teams. I just try to relax because I know when I'm so focused on a race I get in my head too much. Just relaxing and listening to music, I try to be calm and get excited to race, instead of nervous to race.
GS: What are your goals for your freshman season?
TS: It's hard to say because coming in, I had never run a 6K before, so I'm not going to say outcome goals. But, for process goals, I just want to push myself and make sure that after every race I can say, "That was all I had for this race." I definitely want to talk to the older girls a lot because they have run these courses multiple times. Even at preseason camp, all the advice they gave us about the workouts we did was spot on. Having that is very reassuring and nice to know, so I definitely going to bounce off them for a lot of what I think I need.
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Players Mentioned
