Face to Face: Olivia Flores

Del Rio High School graduate (2016), and fleet of distance foot, Olivia Flores, is a runner. Was. Is. Will be. Presently, her running transpires on the stage of NCAA Division I cross country and track and field. To compete at that level, running must partially or wholly inform your life. What compels her to run? It’s all explained below. Flores, who will begin her junior year at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) at the end of the summer, graciously participated in a Q&A Face to Face interview via email. (Please note that the answers have been edited for space.)

FTF: What does running mean to your life?

OF: Running always has and always will hold a special place in my heart...It may just seem like a recreational activity for many people, but for us distance runners, it’s a way of life and a perfect metaphor for life. It has taught me that you can’t go out too fast or else you will burn out and you can’t go too slow or else everything will pass you by...it’s simply about picking a pace in your life and enjoying the scenery.

FTF: What events do you compete in at UTSA? Was it a difficult or fairly easy transition from high school to college?

OF: My main events are the 3k Steeplechase and the 5k flat race. As for cross country, I’ve had the opportunity to participate at the Conference USA (5k) meet both years, but this past year was my first time competing at the NCAA regionals cross country meet (6k) which took me by surprise but now I’m looking forward to my junior season. My goal for my 2018 XC season is to just build off my weak spots...and placing at least top 35 in the conference...2019 track season is to make it to the conference indoor meet for the 3k flat race with a 10:10 time (there’s no steeple race) and for
outdoor, my end goal is to medal at conference in the 3k steeplechase. The transition from high school to college was fairly easy besides the fact that I still had lots to learn. I wasn’t such an expert at distance running in high school and surely wasn’t the best...I went into distance running not knowing anything about it, not knowing how to take pace and how many miles were supposed to be kept on a pair of running shoes, I injured myself one year with a stress fracture, but I quickly learned from that injury.

FTF: How did participating in cross country and track at Del Rio High School prepare you for the collegiate level?

OF: College running has looked very similar to my high school days, the only thing different that I wish I could tell 16-year-old Olivia is that Sunday long runs are very crucial and every day of the week counts, even weekends, I never knew what the coaches in high school were talking about.

FTF: Can you tell us about your family?

OF: I grew up with my mom (Leonor Torres) and my sister (Bernice Flores)...who have been my main anchors of support just by picking me up when I failed at little things. My dad (Javier Flores) who is still a part of my life but remarried, has also helped me a lot by being the smarter voice in my head, getting me to reach for bigger goals like college, which five years ago, I didn’t think I was good for.

FTF: Your major at UTSA?

OF: I’m currently majoring in Criminal Justice, with a minor in digital forensics, where I hope to accomplish my dreams of working my way through the Federal world and eventually become an FBI agent.

FTF: What is most important in your life and why?

OF: The most important thing in my life is to always remember the person I do these things for and that is my Lord and Savior, it is by His grace that I am who I am, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s just a matter of constantly trusting the plan because He knows exactly what He’s doing.

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