Kassi Andersen has had a surprising running career. She has been a surprise to BYU and even surprises herself with where her cross country career is taking her.

As a 5-foot-10 inch freshman at Provo High School, Andersen tried out for the volleyball team and even planned on playing until the last minute when she switched to cross country.

"I really hated running but had one brother who ran cross country for fun and that is how I got into it," Andersen said. "I hated it because we had to run in the summer and wake up early. I just thought it was dumb."

Andersen went on to win State in cross country her sophomore and senior years, garnering the all-state athlete of the year award.

"No one put me into running," Andersen said. "I didn't even get much support until I started competing and doing well. Then everyone was like, ok, let's go to her race now."

Andersen didn't even know that she was going to run in college. She thought her cross country and track career would end at high school.

"I don't really look in the future that way. I just work on doing what I am doing now and doing the best with that."

However, when the time came for recruiting Andersen didn't consider an school other than BYU.

"It has always been my dream," Andersen said. "I had many offers to go to other schools, I didn't even go on other recruiting trips. I went to BYU cross country camps and I just always wanted to come to BYU."

As a freshman at BYU, women's coach Patrick Shane decided to redshirt Andersen in order to get her used to the program and increases her strength.

"It was good to redshirt for me because I needed that adjustment time to get stronger so I could train and race," Andersen said. "Why not run your fifth year when you are stronger?"

"When I first came here I was like 'holy cow, we are working out again.' It just seemed like it never ended and I was sore all the time and just tired. It is a totally different level that you just have to adapt to."

After coming off a redshirt season Andersen has not only been BYU's top runner, but also swept the Mountain West Conference as Athlete of the Year and MWC Freshman of the Year.

However, despite her rising success, teammate Jesse Kindschi said Andersen is one of the most humble people she has ever met.

"She does not focus on keeping her personal statistics, nor does she strive for the number one BYU spot," Kindschi said.

"I get a lot of motivation to run better for myself," Andersen said. "I have never felt like I need to take someone's spot on the team. I just feel blessed that I can improve to the point where I can help the team out."

Andersen has placed first for the Cougars in the Great American Cross Country Invitational, Pre-nationals, and the Mountain West Conference Championships where she ran the first place time of 20 minutes 55.2 seconds.

Although Andersen redshirted last season and Shane had no intention of running her, he gave her the opportunity to go to NCAA Nationals last year as an alternate runner.

"I wouldn't be able to race, but he wanted me to have that experience," Andersen. "It was awesome to be able to see what it is all about and not have that pressure of racing. It has prepared me for this year."

In addition to her national experience, Andersen has also had international racing experience.

Andersen ran in the World Junior Championships this summer in Jamaica after she became the USA 1500 Junior Champion last track and field season.

As a member of the USA Junior Cross Country National Team at the world championships in Dublin, Ireland in March, Andersen ran with the best cross country, 19 and under, women in the world.

"We were there with the most amazing pro-runners in the whole world," Andersen said. "From that experience I saw running on a whole new level. I learned how much I love BYU and the team. I am so blessed to be at a place where the church is at school."

Andersen's favorite part of the BYU cross country team is the team aspect.

"I love track, but it is so nice to have cross country where everyone is running the same thing," Andersen said. "I love track, then the last couple weeks I hated track. Now I love cross country and being able to run out on the fields, but I think that near the end I will be ready for track."

Keeping with tradition she is not sure what her post-college plans are but is more concerned with the Nov. 25 National Championships.



Copyright Brigham Young University 18 Nov 2002