HIGH POINT, N.C. — Freshman Olivia Purdy has started off her collegiate career on a very dominant note for the High Point Panthers women's cross country team. She opened up the season, placing 18th overall and 1st for the Panthers in the Friday Night Lights Elon Opener on August 29th. Through just two meets this season, she has already been awarded Big South Conference Freshman of the Week.
To begin the season, Purdy has clocked in with a time of 14:20.8 in the 4k at the Elon meet and then 18:32.9 in the 5k at the Adidas XC Challenge. Her second race occurred on a harder course than the one she opened her collegiate career at. The course in Cary, N.C. was a good challenge for the freshman early on. The numbers do not do justice on what Purdy has truly done so far this season.
However, it is not just the results you see on paper that show the impact of Purdy, but also what she does behind the scenes and beyond the lights. Purdy has a work ethic that stands out among the runners she competes against. Her training comes both physically and mentally.
"I think I definitely have to be more positive and really focus on myself than in high school, especially in the workouts because they're longer and training my mileage is way more," Purdy said.
When it comes to this work ethic, Purdy believes it stems from her family ties.
"Sometimes I feel like a second parent to my siblings, so I think that definitely helped with being more mature and taking care of others or focusing on yourself too. I definitely say I'm more on the mature level than on the childish level. I think being surrounded by these girls who are all very driven and determined and mature, definitely helps with that. It makes me want to be a better person and more mature," Purdy said.
The freshman also stated that Head Coach Remy Tamer has also influenced her training and how to go about it.
"He definitely knows how to push me hard without going overboard or making me feel less of a person," Purdy said.
Coach Tamer has had very positive things to say about Purdy and her development so far in her young college career. Tamer states Purdy displays the traits and characteristics that the program looks for, and she is always willing to do new things.
"She has a student mindset, meaning she's a student of sport, and she's open" Tamer said. "She shows up to practice attentive and engaged and willing to get out of her comfort zone, which has been great for me as a coach and even better for her teammates and upperclassmen to help mold her and shape her."
According to Tamer, in the first six weeks of school, everyone has been able to witness Purdy growing into her new self. She is going to be one of the team's "stronger" athletes.
Now, at the mid-season mark in 2025, Tamer believes he will see even more improvement from Purdy in the future. The Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. as well as the Panorama Farms invite in Charlottesville, Va., are two meets where Purdy can very well succeed before the conference tournament at the end of October.
Purdy said that training with the likes of Brianna Malone, Alyssa Hendrix, and Charli Montalvo definitely makes her want to work hard and put in the effort due to the atmosphere that they have built. To be able to train with the likes of these runners, who could only imagine was Purdy is truly learning and at the rate she is.
When off and not training, Purdy has learned how to be a better time manager. She says she has realized the time she has to put into academics and preparing for class. Purdy has also learned more about the food she eats and her diet. She wants to make sure she has the right nutrients to compete at a top level.
The Romeo, Mich. native has shined so far to begin her collegiate career. Watch out for her to continue her success throughout the rest of the regular season, the postseason, and into the future. Purdy will compete next at the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pa. on October 3rd.
#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam
