Name: Caroline Rickard
High School: Blue Mountain
Grade: Senior
Sport: Girls’ cross country
Age: 17
Hometown: Orwigsburg
Family: Parents, Kathleen and Christopher Rickard; brothers, Cael and Colin
Accomplishments: Clocked a 19:43 to win the girls’ individual gold at the Schuylkill League Cross Country Championships. Rickard defeated her closest competitor by 34 seconds.
Athletes I admire: None
Favorite sports teams: Past and present Blue Mountain cross country teams
What age did you start running cross country?: In seventh grade as a 12-year-old
Do you play any other sports?: Track and field
Talk about winning your first Schuylkill League cross country championship in your senior year: “It was awesome. ... I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. I would keep this moment forever. I trained all summer. I trained all season, and it pays off in the end. It really does. ... For future winners, I hope they get the same feeling I have right now.’’
What do you like most about cross country?: The team. The girls that I am with are the most amazing and influential girls out there.
“And they’re so positive, and they just lift you up. You’re having a bad day, or you have a bad race, and they’re there for you. They’re there to console you. They’re there to tell you that it’ll be better next time. That’s what motivates me the best. That team, family aspect is just amazing, and that’s what pushes me through.’’
What are your goals for the rest of the season?: States. States with a million exclamation points. ... If I can make it to states, then I had a great cross country season. I missed states last year by one (place), and there’s no way that I’m missing it this year.’’
What are your plans after high school?: Attend college at Temple or Wilkes (and maybe run cross country for the Colonels). Study public relations and graphic design to work in the advertising field.
Past winners
Sept. 16 — Cam Greenawalt, Blue Mountain, boys’ soccer
Sept. 23 — Abby Stankiewitch, Marian, girls’ volleyball
Sept. 30 — Dylan Bucior, Jim Thorpe, boys’ cross country
Oct. 6 — Tanner Cook, Blue Mountain, golf
Oct. 19 — Peppe Mini, Williams Valley, boys’ soccer