UCLA BRUINS - Athletics News

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		Kate Vermeulen
		Sport: Women's Cross Country Year: Sophomore Hometown: London, Ontario High School/Previous College: Lucas/West Virginia

Past Profiles:
Venus James (Women's Soccer)
Sean Kern (Men's Water Polo)
Sasha Victorine (Men's Soccer)
Kristee Porter (Women's Volleyball)

What is the favorite part of your daily routine?
Cross-country practice. It's nice because it's a social aspect of my life. Challenging yourself and the limits of your body during a workout is nice. I love my classes as well but I get pretty hyped about practice.

What is your favorite class at UCLA?
Right now I'm taking a class called "Women of Color" and we have a lot of discussions. Everyone has a lot of their own personal experiences to share and we get to know each other pretty well. Everyone seems to have a passionate experience that they've had and they feel open and comfortable enough to share it in class. It's interesting, especially being a white woman, seeing the perspectives of women of color.

Favorite UCLA hangout?
I've just discovered the Kerckhoff Coffee House and I like going there to study.

Which famous person, deceased or living, would you most want to spend a day with?
Athletically, Wilma Rudolph. Academically, Alice Walker.

What do you do to prepare yourself for a meet?
I just try to get excited and really positive. I always look forward to meets because they are what we prepare for.

What do you like the most about your sport?
It's challenging and I really like the fact that you can continue to push yourself. It's only within yourself that you have the limitations. If you set your goals and set your sights really high, then the sky's the limit. This year we're looking for a national championship as a team and it's nice that everyone is really close and I'm excited about that.

What's your most rewarding athletic experience?
That's easy; winning the indoor National Title in the mile last year. That was definitely a very exciting event because ESPN filmed the entire event and they interviewed each winner, which was exciting. I won the Big East Most Valuable Female Athlete and that was neat. I think the National Title was definitely the most rewarding because it was everything that I had worked for and pushed towards.

What is your favorite pasttime?
I like reading at the beach. I'm trying to get into different things, like yoga, to stretch not only my body, but to relax my mind. But I haven't had much time to do that.

Favorite movie?
"The Shawshank Redemption"

Favorite book?
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Estes.

What other sport would you play if you didn't do cross-country?
Something in the water, maybe I'd be a swimmer or play water polo.

Favorite L.A. activity?
Going to the movies in Westwood.

Best advice you've ever received:
I always admire people who take risks and this one woman whom I talked to when I was deciding to go to college said to me to just follow my heart. She's definitely someone who takes risks yet has stability.

Who is the person that you look up to the most?
I have a lot of mentors who are my family members. They always intrigue and surprise me. My brothers are always traveling and taking risks. My aunt is someone who is a very stable and strong woman, so I look to my family members for strength. I have a lot of admiration for them. I also really admire UCLA alumna Jackie Joyner-Kersee because she has overcome tremendous adversities. She has accomplished some amazing things.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be in the Olympics. Both my parents were really interested in athletics so it was really easy for me to get involved. I have two brothers so the three of us were always competing against each other as well.

Favorite place ever visited?
Barbados. We went to Barbados when I was younger and I still have a vivid picture in my mind of where we stayed. It is on a cliff overlooking the ocean and it's amazing.

Place you've never been to that you would most like to visit?
I love the sun, so Tahiti or Hawaii. Some island somewhere.

If you could only watch one TV show a week for one year, what show would you pick to watch?
"Sex and the City" on HBO. I think it's a little bit scandalous and it's really funny. It's about these four single women who go through a lot, and it's hilarious.

Three adjectives that describe you:
Positive, Strong, Excited

Favorite quote:
"That which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger."

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