All Access: Cross country runner Brittany Arthur

Dan Cusack/Assistant Sports Editor

Freshman Brittany Arthur finished the Evansville Invitational on Saturday in a time of 19 minutes and 2.25 seconds. Arthur, running her first year of cross country, was the second Panther to finish in a field of 188. The Arcola native also finished in 20th place of runners at the Southern Illinois Saluki Invite on Sept. 27 with a time of 19 minutes, 41.25 seconds. She said in her spare time she enjoys playing a variety of sports and likes to mentally go through races before she runs. (Eric Hiltner | Daily Eastern News)

Freshman cross country runner Brittany Arthur loves to run. The Arcola native ran the second best time for Eastern women's cross country team at the Evansville Invite with a time of 19 minutes, 2.25 seconds. Arthur sat down with Assistant Sports Editor Dan Cusack to talk about her transition to Eastern, her favorite television shows and her biggest influence on her running career.


How has the transition been coming to Eastern from Arcola?

It's been really well.

It hasn't been too much of a change just because I'm familiar with the area.

So it's comfortable.


Did you come to Eastern because you were familiar with the area?

Yea, coming from a small school to a big university it made it a lot easier to adjust.

If you weren't running what other sport would you be playing?

I probably would not be doing a sport. I don't really love anything other than running.


Who has been the biggest influence on your running career?

Jason Retz, my high school coach my senior year.

He was the first coach to actually tell me more than just going out and running.

Like, he taught me there is more the mental part of it.

He got me really interested in it and I really liked it.


Is there any difference between high school running and college running?

Oh, yeah.

When I was in high school my longest run was like five miles.

And that's changed drastically. On our long days, for our long run we usually run about 10 miles.


What songs are you listening to on your iPOD right now?

Let me think. "One Step at a Time" by Jordan Sparks.

"Whatever you like."

And I have a lot of Chris Brown.


Do you have any routines on race day? If so what are they?

I usually listen to the iPod a little bit before and mentally go through the race in my head. It helps me relax a little bit.

What songs do you listen to get yourself ready for the race?

Usually I'll just listen to random songs.

Sometimes I listen to old songs like Britney Spears, but sometimes I listen to new songs.

I don't know I just like to switch it up.


-Compiled by Assistant Sports Editor Dan Cusack. He can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.