SE: Catching up with Jaybe Shufelberger of K-State Cross Country
Mar 18, 2021 | Cross Country, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
On Monday, when Jaybe Shufelberger started running in Stillwater, Oklahoma, she became the first Wildcat in seven years to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. For the sophomore, it was the latest honor in a K-State career that began less than two years ago.
After another All-Big 12 cross country season in the fall, Shufelberger has been competing indoors for K-State Track & Field. On Monday, she stepped back outside with the best runners in the country, racing to a 157th place finish out of 256 competitors in Stillwater.
Shufelberger chatted with Austin Siegel of K-State Sports Extra about the NCAA Championships, her road to the national meet and what lies ahead in the outdoor track season.
The conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
AS: Now that you've had some time to reflect on the NCAA Championship in Stillwater, what was your biggest takeaway from the meet?
JS: I was so honored to represent K-State at the national level. Since that was my first time, I didn't want to place too many expectations on it. Just to be able to compete at that level is nothing that I really expected this early on in college. I was just so thankful to be able to do that. There are always going to be things you wish you could have done better in a race, but I was definitely happy with it overall.
AS: Just based off Twitter, it looked like you had a few people who came out to watch you compete. Who were some of the folks you had supporting you?
JS: I had some friends there, my grandparents, my Mom, my boyfriend and my old high school coach. So, I had a whole crew there.
AS: I know you've been competing indoors for a few months, so how challenging was it to go back to cross country after a few months on a track?
JS: I didn't think it was super challenging, at least mentally, that aspect wasn't too difficult. I've always loved cross country, even a little bit more than track. Thankfully, I compete in the 3K and 5k indoors, so I didn't lose any training. I've still been running at a higher distance. But racing on a course instead of a track is very different. I definitely felt that during the race.
AS: Where does that impact you during a race?
JS: Definitely the legs. Since we're in track training right now, we don't run hills as much. We also don't do the fastest, longest runs. They're a little more chill as opposed to cross country, when they're a little faster. You also have the hills and all the other elements, like the wind. Things you don't necessarily have to worry about on an indoor track.
AS: Cross Country was one of the first sports to return at K-State this year. When you look at where you were as a runner in the fall and now competing in the spring, where has the biggest improvement been?
JS: I think I've learned to put myself out there and not necessarily worry too much about the outcome of the race. Just be really tough and gritty throughout the whole thing. Let what's going to happen, happen and do my best.
AS: Just personally, putting track totally to the side, how have the last few months been for you as a college student and as someone navigating kind of a challenging year?
JS: At the beginning, it was very weird and a little bit challenging, just because so much was unknown. But as we've gone through it, things have definitely gotten easier. In some ways, it's been kind of nice taking classes online, because it makes traveling a lot easier. We don't have to move classes around for it, we can focus on learning. That part of it has been really nice.
AS: As you shift gears into the outdoor season, what's your biggest focus?
JS: Just building up to a little higher mileage. I'm not completely sure what this season is going to look like for me quite yet. I'll be in everything from the 3K steeplechase to hopefully the 10K. So, just working on the drills to get better at steeple because I've never done that before. And then the higher mileage so I can compete as well as I want to in the 10K.
AS: The outdoor season should be a little more normal in terms of that meet-day experience, what does getting to have some teammates and fans back do for you as a competitor?
JS: That's going to be so nice. I don't think I realized how much it means to have people that care about you and watching you compete until you can't have them there to cheer you on. It was really refreshing on Monday. You know you have that support no matter what, but it's a different feeling when they're actually there.
AS: Just looking back on this experience racing in the NCAA Championships, what are the moments that you're going to take away as you keep building on this meet in the future?
JS: Personally, it was my support system and experiencing that with people who mean a lot to me. I didn't really perform how I would have liked to, but I think that will fuel me to get back to the national meet so I can do even better. I just want to take away the grittiness that you need to get through the race. Hopefully that's something I can implement in the future.
On Monday, when Jaybe Shufelberger started running in Stillwater, Oklahoma, she became the first Wildcat in seven years to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. For the sophomore, it was the latest honor in a K-State career that began less than two years ago.
After another All-Big 12 cross country season in the fall, Shufelberger has been competing indoors for K-State Track & Field. On Monday, she stepped back outside with the best runners in the country, racing to a 157th place finish out of 256 competitors in Stillwater.
Shufelberger chatted with Austin Siegel of K-State Sports Extra about the NCAA Championships, her road to the national meet and what lies ahead in the outdoor track season.
The conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
AS: Now that you've had some time to reflect on the NCAA Championship in Stillwater, what was your biggest takeaway from the meet?
JS: I was so honored to represent K-State at the national level. Since that was my first time, I didn't want to place too many expectations on it. Just to be able to compete at that level is nothing that I really expected this early on in college. I was just so thankful to be able to do that. There are always going to be things you wish you could have done better in a race, but I was definitely happy with it overall.
AS: Just based off Twitter, it looked like you had a few people who came out to watch you compete. Who were some of the folks you had supporting you?
JS: I had some friends there, my grandparents, my Mom, my boyfriend and my old high school coach. So, I had a whole crew there.
today meant the most!! so speedy & so easy to celebrate! I would drive any distance!! the "nationals white" looks good on you! immensely proud of you and lucky to be your teammate. pic.twitter.com/DPTYY35wXZ
— Delaney Kemp (@delanekemp) March 16, 2021
AS: I know you've been competing indoors for a few months, so how challenging was it to go back to cross country after a few months on a track?
JS: I didn't think it was super challenging, at least mentally, that aspect wasn't too difficult. I've always loved cross country, even a little bit more than track. Thankfully, I compete in the 3K and 5k indoors, so I didn't lose any training. I've still been running at a higher distance. But racing on a course instead of a track is very different. I definitely felt that during the race.
AS: Where does that impact you during a race?
JS: Definitely the legs. Since we're in track training right now, we don't run hills as much. We also don't do the fastest, longest runs. They're a little more chill as opposed to cross country, when they're a little faster. You also have the hills and all the other elements, like the wind. Things you don't necessarily have to worry about on an indoor track.
AS: Cross Country was one of the first sports to return at K-State this year. When you look at where you were as a runner in the fall and now competing in the spring, where has the biggest improvement been?
JS: I think I've learned to put myself out there and not necessarily worry too much about the outcome of the race. Just be really tough and gritty throughout the whole thing. Let what's going to happen, happen and do my best.
AS: Just personally, putting track totally to the side, how have the last few months been for you as a college student and as someone navigating kind of a challenging year?
JS: At the beginning, it was very weird and a little bit challenging, just because so much was unknown. But as we've gone through it, things have definitely gotten easier. In some ways, it's been kind of nice taking classes online, because it makes traveling a lot easier. We don't have to move classes around for it, we can focus on learning. That part of it has been really nice.
AS: As you shift gears into the outdoor season, what's your biggest focus?
JS: Just building up to a little higher mileage. I'm not completely sure what this season is going to look like for me quite yet. I'll be in everything from the 3K steeplechase to hopefully the 10K. So, just working on the drills to get better at steeple because I've never done that before. And then the higher mileage so I can compete as well as I want to in the 10K.
Our sophomore catalyst👟💨#KStateXC's @jayshufelberger crosses the finish line at 1⃣5⃣7⃣th overall in the women's 6k race at the #NCAAXC Championships with a pace of 21:54.5! pic.twitter.com/C3HLvM0Pwe
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) March 15, 2021
AS: The outdoor season should be a little more normal in terms of that meet-day experience, what does getting to have some teammates and fans back do for you as a competitor?
JS: That's going to be so nice. I don't think I realized how much it means to have people that care about you and watching you compete until you can't have them there to cheer you on. It was really refreshing on Monday. You know you have that support no matter what, but it's a different feeling when they're actually there.
AS: Just looking back on this experience racing in the NCAA Championships, what are the moments that you're going to take away as you keep building on this meet in the future?
JS: Personally, it was my support system and experiencing that with people who mean a lot to me. I didn't really perform how I would have liked to, but I think that will fuel me to get back to the national meet so I can do even better. I just want to take away the grittiness that you need to get through the race. Hopefully that's something I can implement in the future.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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