University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
Meet the Newcomers: Taylor Kreitinger
9/26/2019 9:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Get to know Gophers freshman Taylor Kreitinger, a distance runner from Byron, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Taylor Kreitinger joins the Gopher track & field and cross country program as a distance runner from Byron, Minn. A standout mid-distance runner and soccer player for Byron High School, Kreitinger explains how she got into running, her athletic career so far, why she chose the University of Minnesota, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Taylor Kreitinger: I always played soccer as my main sport, but in middle school I started using track as another way to condition for soccer. It probably wasn't until my sophomore or junior year that I had been doing well and decided I could actually focus on it a little bit more. Going into my senior year, I decided I wanted to run in college. I knew I could continue to get better after the success I had in using it primarily as a conditioning sport.
GS: Did you play any other sports besides soccer growing up?
TK: When I was really little I did softball, dance, all that kind of stuff, but it was primarily soccer and track.
GS: How did you decide that you wanted to run in college?
TK: I went on my official visit in November of my senior year, and even maybe a month before that I was still a little hesitant because the idea of running cross country was super nerve-wracking. I had never thought of myself as a runner. I went on my official visit, and I met other girls who had just done soccer or volleyball and they completely changed my perspective.
GS: Was there a specific race or season that served as a turning point for you in your track & field career so far where you realized you could compete at the Division I level?
TK: I'd say it was when I was a sophomore in high school. I had always done the mile, and I was good at it but I didn't really enjoy it. With the 800 meters, I continuously got better at it, especially in my sophomore year. I actually enjoyed it, too. I did a 4x800-meter relay, which was really fun. I started enjoying track more for the team aspect, too.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
TK: I actually committed to the U for academics before I committed to the team for track. I have always been in love with the campus. I've always wanted to go to a big school with a Division I atmosphere and the opportunities in different majors and volunteering and everything. I love the Twin Cities, too.
GS: Do you know what you want to study?
TK: I'm currently planning to major in biology with a possibility of psychology. I'm on the pre-dental track. I'd always wanted to be some sort of care provider for my career. I always thought I wanted to be a doctor, like a lot of people want to do, but I have some family members who work in dentistry and it really appealed to me. It seems like a realistic lifestyle for me, especially if I want to have a family.
GS: What's your favorite distance to race?
TK: In high school my favorite distance to race was probably the 800-meter. I never really did the open 400-meters, but the 4x400-meter relay was a lot of fun being with your teammates.
GS: What was your first impression of the team?
TK: They're super welcoming and bubbly. They're always willing to listen. There's no judgment, and everyone is really supportive.
GS: What are you most looking forward to in your first cross country season and your first year of college overall?
TK: I'm just looking forward to taking it all in and improve. I have nothing in my past to compare it to. This is my starting point, and I'm excited for a fresh start in training. Overall, I'm excited to meet a lot of new people and I'm excited to become a little bit more independent. My hometown is only about an hour away, but I can isolate myself if I want to in some scenarios. I'm excited to have a fresh start.
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Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Taylor Kreitinger: I always played soccer as my main sport, but in middle school I started using track as another way to condition for soccer. It probably wasn't until my sophomore or junior year that I had been doing well and decided I could actually focus on it a little bit more. Going into my senior year, I decided I wanted to run in college. I knew I could continue to get better after the success I had in using it primarily as a conditioning sport.
GS: Did you play any other sports besides soccer growing up?
TK: When I was really little I did softball, dance, all that kind of stuff, but it was primarily soccer and track.
GS: How did you decide that you wanted to run in college?
TK: I went on my official visit in November of my senior year, and even maybe a month before that I was still a little hesitant because the idea of running cross country was super nerve-wracking. I had never thought of myself as a runner. I went on my official visit, and I met other girls who had just done soccer or volleyball and they completely changed my perspective.
GS: Was there a specific race or season that served as a turning point for you in your track & field career so far where you realized you could compete at the Division I level?
TK: I'd say it was when I was a sophomore in high school. I had always done the mile, and I was good at it but I didn't really enjoy it. With the 800 meters, I continuously got better at it, especially in my sophomore year. I actually enjoyed it, too. I did a 4x800-meter relay, which was really fun. I started enjoying track more for the team aspect, too.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
TK: I actually committed to the U for academics before I committed to the team for track. I have always been in love with the campus. I've always wanted to go to a big school with a Division I atmosphere and the opportunities in different majors and volunteering and everything. I love the Twin Cities, too.
GS: Do you know what you want to study?
TK: I'm currently planning to major in biology with a possibility of psychology. I'm on the pre-dental track. I'd always wanted to be some sort of care provider for my career. I always thought I wanted to be a doctor, like a lot of people want to do, but I have some family members who work in dentistry and it really appealed to me. It seems like a realistic lifestyle for me, especially if I want to have a family.
GS: What's your favorite distance to race?
TK: In high school my favorite distance to race was probably the 800-meter. I never really did the open 400-meters, but the 4x400-meter relay was a lot of fun being with your teammates.
GS: What was your first impression of the team?
TK: They're super welcoming and bubbly. They're always willing to listen. There's no judgment, and everyone is really supportive.
GS: What are you most looking forward to in your first cross country season and your first year of college overall?
TK: I'm just looking forward to taking it all in and improve. I have nothing in my past to compare it to. This is my starting point, and I'm excited for a fresh start in training. Overall, I'm excited to meet a lot of new people and I'm excited to become a little bit more independent. My hometown is only about an hour away, but I can isolate myself if I want to in some scenarios. I'm excited to have a fresh start.
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