Katherine Tolman — Reflections of Watertown High senior athletes

    Senior Katherine Tolman has quite a lot of memories to look back on from these past four years as a WHS runner. She’s done of cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track all throughout high school, qualifying for nationals with the 4 × 800 meters relay her sophomore and junior years.

    The different sports all have their own unique qualities, she explained. Cross-country was more of a mental battle, helping her prepare for the indoor season. Then with the transfer to track, the shorter races feel easier to manage in comparison to the 3-mile ones of the fall.

    While a lot of running is focused on the competitive aspect and trying to always run a faster time, Katherine has found a very personal connection to the sport.

    “Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I just pull my sneakers on, go for a run, and feel better instantly,” she said. “It’s kind of how I feel about running every day.”

    Even though she’s had breathing issues in the past, Katherine never let that get in the way, and encourages other underclassman to endure through their hardships as well.

    “Just keep pushing and you’ll start seeing improvements,” she said. “That’s just the most rewarding thing.”

–May 25, 2016–