Name: Emily Plumb
High school: D.W. Daniel
Event PRs: 100 hurdles- 17.23, 400 hurdles- 1:08.24, 4x400 relay team best- 3:59.91
Hobbies: Playing tennis, swimming, reading, hanging out with friends
Rankings: 100 hurdles | 400 hurdles | 4x400 relay
What was your most memorable race/competition?
Winning state in the 4x400 my freshman year definitely gave me motivation to work hard in track through high school. But my most memorable race would probably be running the 400 hurdles my senior year because it had been my goal for so long to run hurdles at state.
Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
I'm proud that I was able to balance my academics with athletics and other activities. I finished sixth in my class also, and managed to be an assistant leader of two clubs. I was definitely stressed out at times but was able to push through that(with the help of my family and peers), and I'm very glad that I did.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
I don't think I would change anything. I worked really hard and it payed off, and I got to run with some really amazing and inspiring people and have some great coaches. It went beyond what I would have ever expected for myself and I'm so glad that I did it.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Physical obstacles like sickness and shinsplints made running more difficult, but the most were mentally pushing through races and hard workouts.
What will you miss the most?
Not ice baths! Just kidding, they actually did help us bond as a team. But I'll miss the grittiness of track, how putting hard work in can so clearly help you succeed. Track is very mental. But I'll miss hurdling a lot also, and our team.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Don't tell yourself that something is hard or that you're tired, you have to push through things to be stronger. Pain is temporary, but the outcome can make it all worth it.
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals?
Especially my senior year, they definitely helped me accomplish more than I had imagined as an athlete. Running an individual event at state was just a dream but they helped make it real. One coach made it a priority to focus on holistic self-improvement, and even put us into accountability groups. This strengthened our bond as a team and really helped me through senior year.
What kind of impact did you family have on your time as a high school student-athlete?
My family came to nearly every meet, and my mom was very flexible and always cheered me on. They always supported me through everything and let me participate in athletics however much or little as I wanted to, which definitely made my intrinsic motivation to excel at sports higher. They're the best.
What are your college or post high school plans?
I will be attending Clemson University as a student in the Calhoun Honors College, and will be studying engineering.
What do you hope to achieve after high school?
Hopefully one day I can attend medical school and eventually work in this field. I am planning to minor in Spanish and would love to travel and use my degree to help people in different places.
Do you see yourself coaching in the future? Please explain and if so, what level and why?
I'd love to coach, probably at the high school level. We had a coach this year that ran track at the collegiate level himself and even did our workouts with us, keeping pace for some of the sprinters. It was very motivating to have a coach that actually understood the workouts that he was assigning to the athletes and could adjust accordingly. Also, he wanted the athletes to not only improve on the track, but all around, and focused on this greatly. This is the kind of coach that I would want to be.
Shout-outs?
Shout-out to the coach I described before, Coach Jerrodd Williams. Also to Coach Cosander Griffin, who took great care of me when I was sick the night before state and has been my coach throughout my four years.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
To become fluent in more languages, the first being Spanish. I would want to use this to experience the world and to learn as much as I could about other cultures. I'd love to make this happen someday and hopefully make this a part of my life and my occupation.