Mental Skills for Developmental Athletes

The Coach

Texas Track & Field Coaches Association

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I played every sport that crossed my path growing up. I love(d) competing, working with a team, challenging myself and learning valuable life lessons through sports. Initially, I attended Rice University to play soccer, but once I noted my potential in track, I switched out my soccer cleats for track spikes and dedicated my athletic ambitions to track and field. During my tenure at Rice, I was a 2 time All-American, and I left Rice with school records in the mile, 1500, and steeplechase.

In addition to my athletic success, I garnered several honors for my work in the classroom. I was a Rice scholar athlete, named to the C-USA All-Academic team, an Academic All-American, and a top 10-honoree for the NCAA woman of the year award in 2009. Additionally, I received an NCAA post-graduate scholarship to assist me in my pursuit of a PhD.

Since graduating from Rice University, I have completed my PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Houston and I have represented my country in several international track and field competitions. I represented my birth country of Scotland at the last three Commonwealth Games (Delhi, 2010; Glasgow, 2014; Gold Coast 2018). Additionally, I represented Great Britain at the World Student Games in 2011 in China and I have run for my country at the European Team Championships in 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2017. I represented Great Britain at the 2016 European Championships and 2016 Olympic Games. Making the Olympic team was a dream come true! I followed up my Olympic year by making my first World Championship team in the Steeplechase, which were held in London in August, 2017. 

I currently work as Sport Psychology Consultant in Houston, Texas. I am constantly interacting with a wide variety of athletes of varying abilities. My contact with high school, collegiate, professional, recreational, and master’s athletes provides me with a wide audience to share my personal running history, performance knowledge, and passion for the sport with.