Gophersports.com: If you could be on any reality show, which would it be?

SP: I would love to be on The Amazing Race.

GS: What's the most notable thing about your hometown?

SP: I am originally from a really small Minnesotan town with a population of around 600 people. I am one of 8 children and when my family moved from this town when I was in middle school, my friends at school joked that the town had to change the population sign when we moved away.

GS: What song do you love to listen to, but are embarrassed to admit?

SP: I love Disney songs, especially anything from Beauty and the Beast!

GS: Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions?

SP: Nothing too crazy, I just like to be a creature of habit before races. I usually try to eat similar foods around the same times before races, wear the same socks, and listen to the same pump up songs on my way to the meet.

GS: What is your most embarrassing moment on the track?

SP: My most embarrassing moment was probably when I peed my pants during my leg of the 4xmile at the Drake Relays last year. I am not used to such a speedy race!

GS: What was the coolest thing about your bedroom growing up?

SP: My bedroom had the laundry chute down into our laundry room in the basement so we would always throw things up and down it, or we would secretly listen to anything going on in the basement.

GS: Describe your perfect day - who would you spend it with, what would you do, where you go?

SP: My perfect day would be spent with my family. Like I mentioned above, I am one of 8 children and it is the rare occasion that we are all together at once any more. I also love holidays, so my perfect day would be spent with my family on Christmas Eve, snuggled up in blankets in from of a fire, drinking warm drinks, and playing board games or cards.

GS: Where is your favorite place at the University of Minnesota?

SP: For relaxing, my favorite spot is the mall area in the spring or fall. For studying, my favorite spot is the Biomedical Library.

GS: Do you have any nicknames?

SP: My family and friends just shorten my name to Steph. But, when I was in elementary school and lost my front teeth, my dad called me "Spacer" because I had such a big gap!

GS: What is your cell phone ring?

SP: It used to be an Eric Church song, but now it is just a standard ring tone.

GS: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?

SP: an endless supply of coffee, my Bible and journal, and a huge blanket

GS: Where do you want to be in 10 years?

SP: I want to be content and successful in whatever path I am led down. I would like to say that I would be married, maybe have a few children, have a nice house, etc. etc. but I have realized that you can't plan for anything like that in life. The future is full of unexpected opportunities and if we solely focus on our "plan" we miss out on great opportunities!

GS: What does being part of the Golden Gopher family mean to you?

SP: Being part of the Golden Gopher family means having an endless supply of sisters and a support system unlike anything else. It means always having someone to turn to, always having a friend to hang out with, always having someone backing you up, and always having someone looking out for you and keeping you on the right track.

GS: When you were little, who was your favorite cartoon character?

SP: My sister and I loved to watch Bananas in Pajamas. We even had two matching jump suits that we wrote B1 and B2 on in marker so we could play dress up as the characters.

GS: If you had your own energy drink, what would it be called?

SP: Orange Pedialyte (even though that is technically a drink already) because that is what I drink before races!

GS: If you could trade places with Coach Wilson for a day, what would you do?

SP: I would take my motorcycle out for the day and explore all the beautiful fall scenery of Minnesota.

GS: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

SP: I would travel to India or Africa for medical service work.

GS: What is your favorite sport outside of cross-country or track and field? 

SP: Basketball

GS: What is one talent or skill you have outside of running? 

SP: I am a pretty good cook.. or so I like to think!