Homeschooled Girl to a Future Olympian

By Kayleigh Lepage

            Being homeschooled only helps a future Olympian beating her competitors in a race.

            Kate Hall, 18, grew up in Casco, Maine with only 3,000 other people, but very few of them were competitive athletes.

What was spectacular about Hall was that she was an outstanding athlete while being homeschooled.

            “My mom thought it would be interesting to try it [homeschooling] after kindergarten and it went very well so we just kept with it,” Hall said.

After deciding homeschooling was the way to go, Hall chose to become an avid runner to keep herself busy; come to find out it was her most desired sport.   

“I was always pretty fast as a kid, but when one of my friends beat me in a race at soccer practice, I knew I really wanted to try track.”

After her years on the middle school track and field team, Hall chose to become more competitive and continued to run throughout her high school years.

Becoming an extremely competitive, avid runner was a goal Hall had since she first started running.

“I’ve broken records indoors in the 55m, 200m, and long jump for Western Maine and the state records as well. I’ve broken outdoor records in the long jump, 100m, 200m, and triple jump for Western Maine and I’ve set state records in all but triple jump. Every year I have beat my personal records in all my events.”

Hall alone participates in lots of memorable events within her high school competitions and outside competitions.

“I've had many memorable races, but one that stands out to me is when I won my first New England Title in the 55m when I was a sophomore. It was the first big race I had ever won outside of Maine and I wasn't seeded to win. Words can't describe the feeling I had after I won. Also, when I came in second at Nationals in long jump was very memorable as well. That was when I knew I wanted to become a National champion the next year. It's hard to answer that one specifically because all of my races have impacted me in some way and I would never want to change that. For example, the past outdoor season was the season I struggled with the most so far. I was very inconsistent throughout the entire season until I reached the state meet and national meet. Although this was very frustrating, it helped me find some critical things to work on that could help me in the future,” Hall said.

During her training schedule, being homeschooled had more advantages than disadvantages.

“Being homeschooled enables my schedule to be very flexible. I’m taking college classes for my senior year, so I’ve been able to schedule my classes around my workout schedule,” Hall said. 

            Hall takes her running very seriously, considering she spends about two hours a day training which includes lifting, conditioning exercises and explosion exercises. On weekends, she often takes time off and gets right back to training on Mondays.

 “It works out to my advantage that meets are typically on Fridays. My week usually goes like this: Monday-hard workout which includes running and lifting, Tuesday-easy day which is usually a light workout and recovery stuff, Wednesday-hard workout again, which includes running and lifting, Thursday-easy day which includes a massage and preparation for the meet, Friday-meet, Saturday and Sunday off. So, typically I would get about 48 hours of recovery until I began running again,” Hall said.  

After competing within her high school, Lake Region High School in Maine, Hall was qualified for The New England and National meets. She said she loves meets within Lake Region High School because in Maine the track athletes and coaches are friendly and helpful.

The road to setting multiple school, nationwide, and personal records with some injuries. Throughout middle school Hall injured her hamstring and glute and had a very minor hip flexor injury during junior year.

Hall’s trainer, Chris Pribish, is the one to help her through her injuries and help her succeed.

“I attribute all of my success to him; he has truly made me reach goals I never believed possible before him. Since I met him, I have only been injured once for a short two weeks. He figured out different things that was wrong with me that was connected to my hip flexor injury. For example, my breathing was off, so I began doing breathing exercises and also I had to strengthen my right glute to help as well,” Hall said.

She said that her trainer, Pribish, has inspired her the most throughout her running career. 

“He has gotten me though the most in my track career and I could never thank him enough for everything he has done for me,” Hall said.  

Hall said her motivation grew as her running career did.

“I guess my motivation is just to be the best that I can be in track and field. I absolutely love the sport, and I don’t fell like I would be able to accomplish this if it wasn’t for how much I love it. I tell myself everyday to never give up no matter how hard the workout is because I know it will be worth it when I (hopefully) make it to the Olympics someday,” Hall said.

Hall, now a senior is getting lots of invitations to top schools.

“I'm trying to set my goals one year at a time, but it's hard when there are amazing opportunities ahead. This year my main goals are to become a national champion in at least one of my events, and to set PR's in all of my events. For even further into the future, I want to qualify to go to the Olympic Trials in 2016, and go to the Olympics in upcoming years if I don't make in it 2016,” Hall said.

Hall just recently committed to Iowa State and plans to run for the track and field team.