The Ohio women's cross country team knew they were getting a solid runner when Carime Reinhart joined the squad this past fall, but no one expected just how exceptional she would be in her first year on the team.
She was a top athlete coming in
a top recruit out of high school. So she was definitely talented but making the adaptation as a freshman and doing a great job for us as a freshman was just fantastic to see Ohio coach Clay Calkins said. Freshman year is supposed to be a tough year
a transitional year
but she didn't miss a beat from high school. She came right in and was great out of the block.
Making the transition from high school to college seemed easy for Reinhart as she finished in ninth place at the Mel Brodt Invitational, her first competitive race as a Bobcat. However her success did not stop there. Reinhart finished in the top 10 of the next four races she competed in, which culminated with her fifth place finish at the Mid-American Championships, a finish that was good enough to earn her a place on the All-MAC first-team.
I was really surprised because I figured I'd be back farther
but I definitely surprised myself
Reinhart said. I worked really hard last season and all that hard work and dedication really came to that point and just really paid off.
Reinhart finished her freshman campaign with the rest of her teammates at the NCAA Regionals where she captured 46th place out of more than 200 competitors. Yet for Reinhart, the season never really ended, because she works just as hard in the off-season as she does during the season, pushing herself and her teammates to work harder.
Seeing Carime kick butt definitely motivated our whole team
and I think next year we're going to have a really good team because we see how hard work helps a ton. She's been a huge motivating factor for us
junior Lauren Birnie said.
While her teammates and coaches describe Reinhart as quiet, they believe she leads by example, which is something she will be looking to do again this coming fall in her second season on the cross country squad. And a perfect example to set would be recapturing a place on the All-MAC first team, which is a goal Reinhart set for herself to accomplish in her sophomore season, as well as for the rest of her career as an Ohio runner.
One thing is certain, with the work ethic Reinhart employs, it will be hard for her to go anywhere but up this coming season.
There's always room for improvement
Reinhart said. Our mileage increases and there's always something to look forward to.
