20Q: How did you get started in track & field?

JE: When I started track in 7th grade it was, for whatever reason, obvious that I was going to be a hurdler. I have no idea why I thought this but quite honestly my memory from before seventh grade is marginal at best. However, as strange as this may seem, I developed my skill as a hurdler watching TV as a child. The way that I sat in front of the TV was not cross-legged, rather I sat with my heels on the outside of my thighs with my knees bent almost backwards! It turns out that this really helped me be flexible and a natural hurdler.

20Q: In your own words, describe your event and what you love about it?

JE: I run the 110 meter hurdles. What I love most about my race is that it is short and I don't have to feel like puking to run a good race! On a more serious note, the hurdles is awesome because it is a high intensity event that requires agility, strength, and flexibility, and thank goodness not an overwhelming amount of endurance.

20Q: What is your goal for the season?

JE: My goal for both the indoor and outdoor season this year is to break the UND hurdle record. I've ran a personal best of 8.22 seconds in the 60m hurdles and the school record is 8.16 seconds. Additionally, in the 110m hurdles the school record is 14.27 seconds, while my personal best is 14.57. Both of these goals are challenging but also attainable.

20Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?

JE: A typical day in my life revolves around school and track. I am a senior physics major planning on going to medical school next fall at UND. Physics and Pre-Med was a very intense academic route to take. I do most of my studying and homework in the morning and I'm known to occasionally wake up around 5 am to make sure I get everything done. Next I go to class, finish my procrastinated homework for the next class, try to eat, and finally I have track practice. After track practice, I try to have a pretty relaxed night unless I have a test coming up. Then I just lose sleep and enjoy a medium coffee with two creamers at Tim Horton's the next morning!

20Q: Which athlete inspires you the most?

JE: The most inspiring athlete in my life is my sister Emily Evers. Throughout her basketball career there has never been a time when everyone believed in her. She's worked through this adversity along with countless injuries and is currently playing professional basketball in Spain. It's amazing to see someone work for something they want regardless of what others think and find a way to do much more than succeed. 

20Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

JE: I'd like to be remembered for being a huge source of energy and excitement for my track team. I'm a very energetic person and really try to make every situation as fun as possible. I hope people remember me for making their days a little bit more exciting.

20Q: What is your pre-competition ritual if you have one?

JE: My pre-meet ritual is fairly basic. About an hour before my race I start listening to music, as loud as possible. Usually I have one particular song that I really like at the time and listen to that same song on repeat for an hour, and yes I love it just as much the tenth time I hear it as the first. I get my self incredibly pumped up for my event and it helps me compete well.

20Q: What are your hobbies outside of athletics?

JE: Outside of athletics I like to workout, read, and play plenty of foosball, but there has never been a time where I've turned down being with other people, homework willing. I love people, meeting people, getting to know them better, and just having fun with friends, teammates, and family. 

20Q: What is the best thing about living where you do?

JE: I've lived in Grand Forks for my entire life and I love it here. I love the people and in particular the atmosphere that the community creates for UND. This town is truly interesting in the activities going on at UND and it makes being an athlete at UND very rewarding

20Q: Name one thing most people would be surprised to know about you?

JE: I suppose it depends on the person but most people probably don't know that I'm quite good at foosball and juggling. I have spent probably way too much time doing each of those things but oh well.

20Q: The worst or most challenging part of being an athlete?

JE: The most challenging part of being an athlete is juggling all of the requirements of school, work, and social life along with track. It is a sleep-deprived life for most athletes and keeping up motivation to succeed on the track, in the classroom, and set aside some time for fun can be a real challenge.

20Q: The best part of being an athlete?

JE: The best part of being an athlete is long-term success. When you work on one skill for months and finally get to see that hard work make you better at what you love there is no

better feeling. I've never met an athlete who has regretted the hard work that they put in while looking back at their career. 

20Q: If you weren't being an athlete, what would you be doing?

JE: I'd love to say something super exciting, like traveling or starting a business, but most likely I would be working a lot more at my job, and making some money in a feeble attempt to at least start paying for medical school. 

20Q: If you could do any event in track & field, what would it be & why?

JE: I love my event. The 110m hurdle event is absolutely the right choice for me. Besides hurdles I think that the next event I would choose is the jumping events. It requires speed and strength just like the hurdles, but the intensity of jumping off of the board would be very exhilarating.

20Q: Who has made the biggest impact in your life?

JE: My family. I grew up in a very competitive environment surrounded by athletics. On the weekends either my sister or myself would travel to our sports events and my parents would come to every game possible. These experiences I have had with my family shaped me into the person I am today and I'm very grateful for that.

20Q: What is your goal after you graduate?

After I graduate I will be going to UND medical school in the fall. My goal at medical school is to succeed academically and find my niche in the medical world.

20Q: How would your teammates describe you?

JE: I'd like to think that my teammates describe me as an energetic person who likes to bring some fun into everyone's lives. Occasionally they may say that I'm a bit too energetic for their liking, but you win some and you lose some I guess. I'd also hope that they'd recognize that I'm interesting in how they're doing in their events. At track meets, when I'm not competing I like to watch as many events as I can and cheer my teammates on.

20Q: What is your favorite movie of all time? Why?

JE: My favorite movie of all time is undoubtedly Harry Potter. I love everything to do with those movies. If you think Harry Potter is nerdy it's because you're a muggle and your opinion doesn't count anyways.

20Q: Which road-trip are you most looking forward to this season and why?

JE: I'm looking forward to the Myrtle Beach trip over spring break. During this trip, the lives of track athletes on our team get to be surrounded only by track. What I mean is that as a team we get a week without the distractions of school or work to focus on being a track athlete.

20Q: What makes UND special to you?

JE: Pretty much everything. UND has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I remember as a kid watching UND basketball games in the Hyslop, and my mother being inducted into the hall of fame for UND track. When I got to UND I had a blast, met some of my best friends, and ran into people and situations I'll never forget. The next step in my journey at UND is to go to the medical school and I'm sure that will continue to reinforce my love for this University.