Chris Ferguson, Campus Carrier Asst. Sports Editor
As Berry’s sports teams continue to excel, one student-athlete has managed to garner national recognition for her exceptional performance in her sport. Sophomore Genesis Leggett is currently ranked 24th in the nation for the indoor shot-put event, according to the NCAA DIII U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She is one of the few sophomores in Division III that have been listed in the top 30 rankings.
Despite this honor, Leggett aspires for more.
“I’m just trying to get to that number-one spot,” Leggett said.
She was able to reach this point in her career through hard work and dedication.
“I’ve just been working out, listening to my coach on all of the drills that he suggests for me to do,” Leggett said. “I also study other throwers who I want to throw like. For shot-put, my idol is Michelle Carter. She’s an American Olympic thrower who won the gold medal in the last summer Olympics.”
She goes on to explain how her success in the indoor season of Track and Field came a surprise.
“The indoor season has given me a much further start than I was at last year,” Leggett said. “I didn’t really expect to be competing in indoor as well as I am this season and was really training for next year. I guess I’m a little ahead of schedule,” she said with a chuckle.
Leggett had offers from athletic programs other than Berry, but the facilities and sense of family attracted her to Berry.
“I definitely liked the facilities,” Leggett said. “I liked how my coach really emphasized that he wants the team to be an actual team because track is more of an individual sport. He really emphasizes us coming together and having a sense of family.”
Being a student athlete has been a balancing act for Leggett, but it’s not anything she’s not used to.
“It’s hard,” said Leggett. “It’s not easy at all, but I’ve been doing this since high school. I played 5 sports in high school so its not like I’m not used to it. Sports can help give me some relief if not really focused on school at the moment. At the same time, if I am trying to get a certain throw on a certain week it can definitely add some pressure on me.”
Leggett plans to further her athletic abilities and aspires to become an All-American athlete.
“Once I get that, I really don’t know what’s next,” Leggett said. “I’m just going to keep growing and see how far I can go with it.”
The NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships wil be held in Birmingham, Ala. on March 9 and 10. The outdoor season will begin on March 15.