Whitney High cross-country star Katie Kopec commits to Oregon State University

Last Nov. 27, Whitney High's Katie Kopec crossed the finish line at the California Interscholastic Federation State Cross Country Championships, placing seventh out of 190 runners. Nearly 11 months later, Kopec is now committed to Oregon State University for cross-country and track and field. "It's such a surreal feeling that I will be continuing to do the sport I love at the collegiate level," Kopec said. "I could not have done so without the help of my friends and family and my coaches who have guided me throughout my high school experience." Kopec is in her fourth year of running cross-country at Whitney High School in Rocklin. The senior has already won two races this season at the Sierra Invitational and at the first Sierra Foothill League meet on Sept. 21. "From the very beginning, Katie has been very patient and very willing to trust the process," Whitney High cross-country coach Jerry Dodge said. "Not all young and talented runners settle into a three-and-a-half year progression of training cycles and never question the process nor show frustration. Katie is a star but she doesn't act like a star. She is very humble, while at the same time, confident and realistic about her abilities and is very much a team player. In our program, we value patience and process, and Katie demonstrates both very naturally. She truly is a role model in both character as a person and in how to conduct oneself to maximize athletic achievement." Kopec runs cross-country for the Wildcats and has also been on the track and field team for three years and has competed in a plethora of events from the 400-meter race to the two-mile race along with relays. Last season, Kopec placed first in eight events and made it to the state championships in the 3,200-meter event. Kopec will join an Oregon State Beaver cross-country team that has placed in the Top 3 in three of its first five events, all with a minimum of eight teams competing. She will race with a number of talented runners as Teaghan Knox, Kate Laurent and Emily Van Valkenburg have all run under 18 minutes in multiple 5k races for the Beavers so far this season. "I am most looking forward to pushing myself to be the best runner I can possibly be and for the connections I will make throughout my time in college," Kopec said. "By competing at such a high level and in the Pac-12 conference, I will have to work extremely hard alongside my future teammates to achieve goals we all hope to achieve. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me as I embark on this outstanding journey come next fall." While Kopec is excited for her future, there are still a number of goals that she has with the rest of her time at Whitney High in both cross-country and track and field. "My biggest goal for the remainder of my cross-country season is to lead my team into a qualifying spot for the state meet, where I hope to run a personal best and break my current fastest time on that course of 17:57," Kopec said. "As for track, again running personal bests in all of my events would be amazing and I plan on tuning into lowering my 1,600-meter time."