Helen Roddy is the second-fastest ranked freshman in the state, with a 5k PR of 18:08. Roddy trains with junior teammate Madie Boreman, 4:46 miler and 2x state champion, and teammate Haley Timmons. The three took 1st-3rd in the district, leading Rouse to a district championship for the first time in the 6A division. Roddy hopes to break 18 minutes for the season and medal at the state meet.
When did you first start running?
I first started running when I was seven years old.
What were your expectations coming into your freshman year of high school?
Coming into high school, I pretty much knew that it was going to be really competitive, especially since we moved into 6A.
What is it like to have a high caliber runner (Madie Boreman) on your team?
I really like running with Madie Boreman because she's a really experienced runner and was able to teach me a lot. She's a really encouraging teammate, and really pushes you in practice.
What are your top goals for this cross country season?
My two top goals for this season is to break 18 and to place in state,
What are your longterm goals by the time you graduate high school?
My main goal by the time I graduate high school is to be able to Oregon State University.
What would you consider your greatest strength as a runner and the area you would like to most improve on?
My greatest strength is being able to challenge anyone I race, and I would like to work on keeping a strong pace throughout the whole race.
What is the best running advice you've ever recieved?
The best advice I've ever gotten is ''Some people in the world are going to try to stop you from reaching your goals, but don't let them stop you, They'll just make you better.''