Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Breck Don, MSU-N Cross Country

When it comes to building an athletic program from the ground up, it sometimes means digging a little deeper for athletes, especially in the beginning.

And for the Montana State University-Northern cross country program, that proved to be true. But, because the program just got its start in 2015, it offered the opportunity for many athletes to pursue a career in cross country, including some who had never previously participated in the sport. One such athlete is Breck Don, formerly of Havre High.

Don, who is a senior this year for the Skylights, didn't participate in cross country during her days as a Blue Pony, instead using her athletic talent in other areas, competing in volleyball, tennis and basketball. Yet, thanks to fellow Northern cross country runner Courtney Cota, Don found out the team was looking for runners and the rest took care of itself.

"I actually worked with Courtney in the financial aid office," Don said. "She did cross country in high school and told me they were starting a team here at Northern and that they needed runners, so that is how I got into it. After she told me about it, I went and talked to the coach and then I started from there."

In order to get in shape and train for cross country, Don said that she relied on Cota, who essentially became her running partner.

"I started my second year of college," Don said. "In my first year, I really just started with training for cross country, but the next year, was when I started competing in cross country. But I have really enjoyed it, when Courtney and I first started, I could only run like 2.56 miles. Now we run about 10 miles every Sunday, so it has been a good transition for me, considering I didn't really have any experience. But my teammates have also been great and my coaches are great, so that makes a difference, who you run with."

Don, who is a double major at Northern, studying both diesel technology and business administration, has already put in some solid finishes in 2017 for the Skylights, as she was 26th in the first meet of the year hosted by Carroll College. She also finished 18th among non Division I runners at the Montana State University Invitational, while ending up 10th in the Battle of the Border meet between MSU-N and Central Wyoming College, which was held on Prairie Farms Golf Course.

While the Skylights are done running at home this season, their 2017 campaign is far from over. The team will have three more meets this month, starting with a meet hosted by Montana State University-Billings, in Billings this Saturday, followed by meets in Lewiston, Idaho (Oct. 14) and Great Falls (Oct. 20), before Northern will return to Lewiston for the Frontier Conference Championship, Nov. 3.

But this week, as Don and both the Lights and Skylights get set to head to Billings, the Havre Daily News caught up with the senior for five questions.

HDN: At this point, do you like running, it is something you do on your own?

Don: "I do enjoy running. I have done a few fun runs like the color me rad and some others like that. So it's just something that I enjoy doing and it helps me keep in shape, too."

HDN: So how did the weather affect practice this week?

Don: "On Monday, we still had normal practice. But Tuesday, our coaches told us just to stay inside to work out and stretch."

HDN: What is the difference between running in the warm weather, compared to the cold?

Don: "There is not really a huge difference, you just have to deal with the weather. Our coach tells us not to wear any extra clothes or anything, because it will slow us down more. So we try to warm up a little longer, like 40 minutes compared to 30. But there is also that thought in your mind that the faster you get done, the faster you can get warm."

HDN: What was it like to have a home meet?

Don: "I thought that it was awesome, because it is my senior year, so to have a home meet that was pretty cool. To have the support of some students and even some of the teachers and community members, that was pretty great."

HDN: What have you enjoyed most about cross country, since it will be your last year?

Don: "Probably just the whole family aspect of it. We have grown pretty close as a team, even outside of practice and the season, so that is something that I am going to miss."