North Carolina State University Athletics
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Sam Parsons
10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Recently, Gopack.com had the opportunity to catch up with Sam Parsons of the men’s cross country team to get to know more about who he is.
A redshirt sophomore, Parsons captured All-Region honor last season with his 23rd place finish in the 8k at the 2013 NCAA Southeast Regionals. In his 2014 campaign he broke the course record at the Adidas Challenge on the Wake Med Cross Country Course, as well as posted a career-best time of 14:32.1.
Parsons has also been a leader for the Pack in the Notre Dame Invitational and the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational with 18th and 36th place individual finishes.
He is currently studying business administration with a concentration in supply chain management.
The one thing he loves about being a student-athlete: “Without a doubt the free Howling Cow Chocolate Milk. Haha, just kidding. Everyday I get to spend three hours with my best friends without phones or other distractions- just running, working out, communicating and embracing the opportunity we are all given as D1 athletes. It’s something special; I wouldn’t give that up for anything.”
His favorite thing about NC State: 17 Dixie Trail, aka the “Track Haus”
The one meet he looks forward to running in every year: “NCAA’s- It’s the biggest stage against the best teams and runners assembled from across the nation. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to become great and represent the Pack.”
What it’s like to run for NC State and Coach Geiger: “Coach Geiger has the most ACC Championship team titles of all time in the entire ACC history across any sport or coach. So when Geiger speaks, you listen. When Geiger teaches you something, you learn it. We are a team better known as Geiger’s Army that finds its roots in a strong work ethic and a commitment to one another.”
What he wants to accomplish as a runner before he leaves NC State: “When I came to NC State my freshman year I promised Geiger that I would get him back on the podium (top 4 teams) at the NCAA National Cross Country Meet, and I intend to keep my promise. Individually I have a lot of goals such as to be an All-American but I would cherish more to be remembered as one of the hardest workers to come through the program and how that work ethic lead the team achieve its goals.”
