A&T’s Cross Country athlete Kristin Rush is an example of what leadership should be on and off the track. According to cross country coach Joel Pearson, Rush exemplifies leadership in practice by taking charge of drills and making sure everyone is on task.

Rush, a senior broadcast production major, is very active in her department. She shoots the football press conferences on Mondays for the ‘Aggie Sports Report’ and recently shot film for the football game on Sept. 15 against Virginia University at Lynchburg. Rush is from Greensboro and is a member of Triad Aggies.

After graduating from Greensboro Day School in the spring of 2009, she received a full scholarship to attend North Carolina A&T. Receiving awards did not stop with just a scholarship for Rush. She received the MVP award her freshman year and has also received a MEAC academic award and an academic award from A&T every semester.

“My goal this year is to get first place, as far as academics this years goal is to graduate with a 3.5 or higher I am currently at a 3.2,” stated Rush.

After graduation in May of 2013, Rush is strongly considering attending graduate school here at A&T, but she is very open to change.

Change is something Rush has gotten used to in her years at A&T. When asked how she felt about her new coaching staff Rush stated,“I like the new staff, it feels good to have a distance coach now. I am very excited about the upcoming year.”

Rush spoke on how she has grown at A&T and said, “Since my freshman year I have gotten stronger athletically, in performance, and mentally. My experiences helped me mature a lot. I learned a strong start builds a strong finish like with GPA. Start bad it’s hard to catch up. [The] same [principal] applies on the track.”

When asked about his outlook on how Rush’s senior year should go Coach Pearson stated, “The goal is to qualify for outdoor nationals. It’ll be a great way to end her career, especially since A&T is hosting the meet this year.”

In Rush’s last meet on Sept.15 at Elon, she came in the top 20 out of 37 girls. “It was a good start to see where everyone was. Now its time to make improvements,” said Rush. Rush upholds a high standard for herself and so does Coach Pearson.

“We are working to be the best cross country team. At the championship in 1994, the women came in 4th and the men came in 5th. That has been the best team so far. We are trying to beat that this year and I expect Kristin to lead the charge to being the best.”

Rush has not only made an impact on the track and in the classroom but with her peers as well. “I have seen Kristin grow in all aspects of life, becoming a more focused mature and dedicated individual. I think this upcoming season she is going to do great things,” said Rush’s teammate Samira Johnson.

Coach Pearson described Rush’s work ethic as “Perfect, she has evolved from a student athlete who missed morning practices, to someone who shows up every morning and pays attention to what it takes to being successful in distance running.”

The Aggies next cross-country meet will be this Saturday in Cary, N.C.

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• Meagan Jordan, Contributor