Salute to Seniors: Abbey Frock of Pendleton

What was your most memorable race/competition?
The 2019 state cross country meet where I finished seventh overall and ran an all-time PR of 19:40. I was very proud of the way that I ran and finished. It showed me what hard training and perseverance can really do. That race will definitely be a memory that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

How have you handled the suspension of the 2020 outdoor season?
The suspension of the season has been a tough one for me to handle. I was just coming off of a tremendous cross country season and a long winter of hard training. I had big plans of finishing really well at multiple events at the 2020 state meet, with a few chances to win an event. As time goes on, I am realizing that I now have more time to prepare for an amazing freshman season in college which is a positive that came from this situation.

Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
The accomplishments that stand out the most to me would be making the all-state cross country team in 2019, making the All south Foot Locker team in 2019 (watch the race), and being the runner of the year at my high school for four years in a row. These are all meaningful memories that will be with me for the rest of my life and running career.

If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
I had a very difficult seventh grade season and did not run many races. I would get so nervous that I would make myself sick and couldn't run basically any races. It did not bother me at the time but looking back on it now I wish I could do it over again. I wish I could build up the courage to race so I did not waste an entire season. I wish I would have learned how to train and not give up at an early age so I could be an even better competitor and runner at my age right now.

College signings | 2019 xc race video coverage

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I have only had two basic obstacles that I had to overcome in my running career thus far. The first being my fear of competition and lack of work ethic. Through the years with my family's help I was able to get over my fear of racing and also learn how hard work pays off through success. The next major obstacle was the team aspect ofthe sport. My team has had a lot of troubles over the past few years which have gotten in the way of my performance and focus level. I have learned to block out the negatives that come with the team and focus more on myself. This outlook is going to shift back to a different focus once I get a new team in the fall which will undoubtedly be better.

What will you miss the most?
I am going to miss the competition and the atmosphere of high school events. My teammates and competitors always made every race so much fun. I loved to run against my team and also people from other teams that I would run with outside of the season.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
My advice to the younger generation of runners would be to pick a goal early in the season and to not waste any time. It is very easy to get distracted from your final goal, but it is important to keep your eyes on the prize and work towards it everyday.

How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals?
Through my coaches I have learned to overcome obstacles and persevere to achieving my goals. I have also learned how to develop my own training schedule that works best for me as an athlete.

What kind of impact did your family have on your time as a high school student-athlete?
My family has had an immense impact on my time as a high school athlete. They have run many miles with me, biked along with me on long runs, traveled to my many meets and extra races, and they have also developed many workouts along.

What are your college or post-high school plans?
I plan to attend Southern Wesleyan University where I am going to run cross country and Track. I want to push myself to be one of the top runners on the team and a well rounded athlete who can compete in multiple events. I have big goals for the future and plan to work very hard to achieve them.

What do you hope to achieve after high school?
I hope to do very well in college, succeeding in both the classroom and on the track. After I get my college degree I want to start my own business that is based on something I really enjoy. I have not planned that part of my life yet but will begin to do so very soon.

Do you see yourself coaching in the future? Please explain and if so, what level and why?
I do not really see coaching as a path in my future, I work better when someone is telling me what to do and not usually the other way around. But if I do change my mind I would enjoy being an assistant coach or even the head coach at the college level. These athletes tend to be more serious about their future and performances which is who I like to work with more.

Shout-outs?
I want to thank my parents for being with me every step of the way. They never lost hope on me when I would go through a rough patch and they always pushed me to do my best. My dad was basically my high school coach in the off season and sometimes during the season. He was the one who pushed me to have such a successful running career and I am thankful for him everyday. My mom was also a major support system in my journey and a person and a runner.

If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
I would love to travel the world with my friends and family before it is too late. I worry that I will pass through life without ever truly enjoying it. So if there was one thing in the world I could do, I would spend more time with the people that mean the most to me and see every single part of our beautiful world.