Running Up the Hill
Student athletes navigate paths for success through cross-country competitions and academic excellence.
Women’s cross-country team member Caroline Lyerly is a biological sciences junior in the Department of Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology. She has been running cross-country for most of her life.
“It’s hard to even think of life without running,” said Lyerly. “This sport is one that requires constant dedication and effort. You can’t fake it. We work hard and it takes focus, grit, and a competitive spirit that has to come from within. My teammates inspire me to keep going. You are running alongside 10 of your best friends—women that inspire you to be better every day.”
When she was choosing a college, the University of Tennessee stood apart from the crowd for her in both athletics and academics, an “everything school” that checked all her boxes for success.
“UT has a standard of striving for excellence that I knew I wanted to be a part of,” said Lyerly. “From before I even set foot on campus, I felt supported by the staff and other athletes and knew that I would be entering an environment that helped me be the best version of myself.”
In pace with her love of running, Lyerly also knew she wanted to pursue a career as a medical doctor, with a focused interest in sports medicine.
“I started out as a kinesiology major and loved learning about the human body and how it applies to mechanics and exercise,” she said. “However, I realized that there was so much more to medicine than just sports and I wanted to ensure that I had as much knowledge as possible before applying to medical school.”
Students forge their own unique paths in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Lyerly took advantage of that tradition, switching her major to biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology.
“I have not regretted the decision once,” she said. “Shanna Pendergrast in the college’s advising office was invaluable to me in helping me navigate scheduling issues due to my major switch and helping me to come up with a schedule that fit the requirements in a way that made sense for my athletic timeline. She sat down and worked with me until we figured it out. I really appreciate her willingness to help. I absolutely love the content I am learning as well as the labs and discussion classes that allow me to apply my learning.”
Lyerly notes that the time, focus, and hard work required for cross-country runners applies well to academics, which in her case involves learning organic chemistry.
“I truly believe that the expectation of excellence in athletics has helped me to hold myself to a high standard academically, striving to succeed at my highest potential both on and off the course,” she said. “I feel like my entire team has this attitude.”
Teammates hold each other accountable in an environment that encourages everyone to take athletics and academics seriously. Lyerly also appreciates the engaged network of Vols For Life, alumni who support athletes present and past in reaching their goals.
“In my time here, I have had overwhelming support athletically and academically and could not be more grateful for all of the ways that athletics staff have helped me,” said Lyerly. “I feel like getting more deeply involved in academics, participating in research, going to office hours regularly, joining an academic club, and attending group study sessions with other students has allowed me to feel more deeply connected to the university as a whole—which has only broadened my love for UT.”
By Randall Brown
Select photos courtesy of UT Athletics