CSUSM Cross Country and Track & Field standout Charlotte Kuzminsky has experienced incredible growth in her three years as a collegiate runner.

In 2012, Kuzminsky completed her freshman year at the University of Utah, where she was not the standout she is at CSUSM. After one year at Utah, Kuzminsky transferred to CSUSM for her sophomore season.

“The downfall for her was going out of state to college in Utah…For her, being close to home and staying in a local area would have been the best thing,” said CSUSM Head Coach Steve Scott. “[The experience] destroyed her love of running.”

To this day, Coach Scott works to change Kuzminsky’s mentality towards running.

“My goal was to try to get her to…come out and enjoy the experience not in a pressured situation…it’s been a work in progress.”

The combined effort between Scott and Kuzminsky reaped benefits last season when Kuzminsky took home first team honors from the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) and recorded a personal best of 18:14 in the 5K.

When it comes to her final season, Kuzminksy’s main goal is to bond with teammates.

“We’re just starting to really form into this close group, and it even shows in our races because we’re in packs now. It definitely shows that if you work together, you can pretty much grow together as well.”

Coach Scott echoes her sentiment that team bonding should play a big role.

“For her to be more engaging with her teammates would be good for her personally and also help her to enjoy the whole experience.”

Even though Coach Scott pushes Kuzminsky to simply enjoy running, the 21-year-old still has a big race goal–to run the 5K in under 18 minutes.

“It was something I did in my senior year of high school [at Canyon Crest Academy], and I have never gotten back to that. I’d like to get back to that point,” Kuzminsky said.

With one month left in the season, Kuzminsky’s time as a collegiate cross country runner is almost over. As this journey comes to a close, Coach Scott is not shy in sharing advice with his athlete.
“Enjoy [the fact] that this is your last cross country season as a collegiate. You’re never going to have this again the rest of your life, so just enjoy it.”