After her 6th place finish in the National Outdoor Track 5000m this past June, redshirt-junior Dominique Scott knew she needed a break before she began training for Cross-Country.
“I took a two week break where I did not run a step… [When] I started running again… I made sure [it was] when I wanted to, rather than setting a morning alarm,” Scott said.
Scott was inspired to run for an American school by her uncle’s move to the United States, and her Dad encouraged her to do so.
“I really liked Coach Harter and was very impressed [by Arkansas’] facilities, but mostly I knew I'd be happy here without my family.”
Her home in Cape Town, South Africa is certainly a long way from Arkansas; she said she’s happy here, but the transition wasn’t easy.
“I had to get over the home sickness…the cultural differences, mainly the food, and the new work load of being in university classes [while] training like a professional athlete.”
Scott’s early success this year can not only be attributed to her work in the off-season, but also to a continuation in her momentum from last season.
Last November she won SEC Runner of the Week after winning the SEC Championships with a 6K time of 20:02.81, helping Arkansas win its 14th conference title, and placing her on the All-SEC first team. Fourteen days later, at the NCAA South Central Regional, she beat that 6K time by 18-seconds (19:40.70), earning her NCAA All-Region honors.
This season, Scott has been named Runner of the Week twice in the same week; nationally by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on September 22 for the first time, and by the SEC on September 24.
“It’s awesome to know the National Cross-Country federation noticed my performance and thought it was worthy of that award.”
That week of recognition in September can be accredited to her performance at the Southern Missouri Stampede where she set a career-best and meet-best time with her 16:32.78 finish, a full 26-seconds ahead of the other runners.
Just half way through the season, she holds meet records at the adidas/UCI Invitational, Missouri Southern Stampede and Chile Pepper Invitational.
“[The Chili Pepper meet] was a great weekend for myself and my entire team as the majority of us ran big personal bests. It was the perfect day and we were running on our home course.”
In last season’s home race, Scott finished second, running a season-best 5K time of 17:00.80. This year, she ran a 16:01.00 in the same event.
“I was extremely surprised by my time when I was running down the home stretch…It shows me I'm in great shape and ready to run with the best girls in the nation.”
Scott said there are two things that have helped bring her to this level of competition. The first being an injury during her sophomore year that caused her to redshirt.
“I really wanted to prove myself worthy of being on the team…I made sure the next season I competed in, I became an All-American.”
Her 28th place finish at the NCAA Championships last season earned her that All-American title. She had a 6K time of 20:38.90, the highest finish for an Arkansas runner at the event.
The second, she said she owes to her trainer Mark Hinton.
“[He] encouraged me to get rid of any fears I had. This allowed me to race and train without anything weighing me down.”
Having proved to herself she can run with the best, Scott said she has big goals for this season.
“I am planning to peak at the SEC meet and National meet…Why not aim to win the race rather than top five or ten where I'd be in arms reach of the title anyway?”
“Cross-Country is a very long season where ones mental and physical endurance are tested… I've been building up my base for this season the past three years I've been here.”
So far this season, Scott and the Razorbacks are undefeated.
This feature was published in the Arkansas vs. Georgia Gameday Football Program.
“I took a two week break where I did not run a step… [When] I started running again… I made sure [it was] when I wanted to, rather than setting a morning alarm,” Scott said.
Scott was inspired to run for an American school by her uncle’s move to the United States, and her Dad encouraged her to do so.
“I really liked Coach Harter and was very impressed [by Arkansas’] facilities, but mostly I knew I'd be happy here without my family.”
Her home in Cape Town, South Africa is certainly a long way from Arkansas; she said she’s happy here, but the transition wasn’t easy.
“I had to get over the home sickness…the cultural differences, mainly the food, and the new work load of being in university classes [while] training like a professional athlete.”
Scott’s early success this year can not only be attributed to her work in the off-season, but also to a continuation in her momentum from last season.
Last November she won SEC Runner of the Week after winning the SEC Championships with a 6K time of 20:02.81, helping Arkansas win its 14th conference title, and placing her on the All-SEC first team. Fourteen days later, at the NCAA South Central Regional, she beat that 6K time by 18-seconds (19:40.70), earning her NCAA All-Region honors.
This season, Scott has been named Runner of the Week twice in the same week; nationally by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on September 22 for the first time, and by the SEC on September 24.
“It’s awesome to know the National Cross-Country federation noticed my performance and thought it was worthy of that award.”
That week of recognition in September can be accredited to her performance at the Southern Missouri Stampede where she set a career-best and meet-best time with her 16:32.78 finish, a full 26-seconds ahead of the other runners.
Just half way through the season, she holds meet records at the adidas/UCI Invitational, Missouri Southern Stampede and Chile Pepper Invitational.
“[The Chili Pepper meet] was a great weekend for myself and my entire team as the majority of us ran big personal bests. It was the perfect day and we were running on our home course.”
In last season’s home race, Scott finished second, running a season-best 5K time of 17:00.80. This year, she ran a 16:01.00 in the same event.
“I was extremely surprised by my time when I was running down the home stretch…It shows me I'm in great shape and ready to run with the best girls in the nation.”
Scott said there are two things that have helped bring her to this level of competition. The first being an injury during her sophomore year that caused her to redshirt.
“I really wanted to prove myself worthy of being on the team…I made sure the next season I competed in, I became an All-American.”
Her 28th place finish at the NCAA Championships last season earned her that All-American title. She had a 6K time of 20:38.90, the highest finish for an Arkansas runner at the event.
The second, she said she owes to her trainer Mark Hinton.
“[He] encouraged me to get rid of any fears I had. This allowed me to race and train without anything weighing me down.”
Having proved to herself she can run with the best, Scott said she has big goals for this season.
“I am planning to peak at the SEC meet and National meet…Why not aim to win the race rather than top five or ten where I'd be in arms reach of the title anyway?”
“Cross-Country is a very long season where ones mental and physical endurance are tested… I've been building up my base for this season the past three years I've been here.”
So far this season, Scott and the Razorbacks are undefeated.
This feature was published in the Arkansas vs. Georgia Gameday Football Program.