Redshirt sophomore Jennie Baragar-Petrash has been steadily improving since the moment she arrived in Tucson, and this past cross country season has been no exception.
 
"This cross country season I didn't have too many set expectations for myself," said Baragar-Petrash. "I just went out there and did the best I could and saw where I could take that. It happened to be a super great season for me. Coming 25th at regionals makes me All-Region, which meant a lot to me."
 
She rounded out her sophomore campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes and four top-25 finishes. Baragar-Petrash closed out the season finishing 25th at the NCAA West Regional. She was the first person to not qualify as an individual for the NCAA Championships.
 
 "Unfortunately," she said," yes, I was only one spot off of making the NCAA Championships, which making for cross-country has always been a huge goal of mine.  I think that is an accomplishment in itself though; I don't think I would have seen myself there this soon. It just makes me want to go harder next year. My goal for next year is to make the NCAA Championships for sure."
 
The redshirt sophomore has competed in three indoor races this season, setting personal-best times in the 3K on two of those outings. At the UW Invitational, she clocked a time of 9:29.69 to set a lifetime best.
 
"It's really great to see steady improvements in the longer distances for track," said Baragar-Petrash. "I'm looking forward to outdoor, and indoor has been going super well. My goal here is just to continue getting PRs and making small improvements as I go. I want to see where I can take that."
 
The Winnipeg, Canada native leads the lady Cats in the mile run and the 3K. She credits the past and the future for her success on the track.
 
"We have had some really great athletes here in the past who recently graduated that I always looked up to in our program," she said. "I have seen them leading by example and I have tried top pick up on that. I see how hard the younger girls on our team work and that motivates me to work harder. We go off of each other's energy in workouts to be the best that we can."
 
This Saturday, she will run the 3K at the MPSF Championships in Seattle.
 
"I'm really excited to run this weekend for sure," said Baragar-Petrash. "I am really excited after last meet's PR in the 3K that I ran because I think that I have more left in the tank. I'm hoping to leave it all out there on the track."
 
With the 2019 outdoor season right around the corner, Bargar-Petrash and company are ready to host the Pac-12 Championships beginning on May 11th.
 
"I'm really excited for Tucson to be hosting the Pac-12s because it is such a big deal," said Baragar-Petrash. "It will be great to run at home and hopefully get a bunch a people to come watch and show them what its all about."