The Redhawk Track team finished their season at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship in Arlington, Texas. Seattle University’s highest finisher, Lilianne Hargreaves, got third in the 1500m, securing a spot on the All-WAC First Team. She was also part of a school record-breaking 4×100 relay.

The high placement at her final meet wasn’t Hargreaves’ only recent success—May 9, she smashed the previous school 1500m record, running a 4:24.62, a whole four seconds faster than the previous best time. She also holds records in the mile and 3k for indoor track.

As a senior, the WAC Championships were Hargreaves’ final meet. Her recent successes, hard work throughout her career, and multiple records show the impact that she will be leaving on the program.

The following is a condensed excerpt from an interview with Lilianne Hargreaves. Questions from the reporter are paraphrased for brevity.

MD: How do you feel after your performance at the WAC Championships?

LH: I’m super happy with it. I went in wanting to get top three, so I got third, so I was happy with that. It’s a great end to the season.

MD: Is there any significance to you in terms of breaking records, or is it just another day on the job? 

LH: I do think it’s cool to see my name in the records and that my time here will be remembered, and I definitely never thought I would be breaking records, so it’s very affirming and validating that I am.

MD: Throughout your track career, what role has fun and excitement played? 

LH: The whole sport is about how hard you can push yourself, so it can be pretty tough, but I feel like having my teammates, [as] we are a pretty close knit group, has been super fun… it really helps me get excited.

MD: Is there anyone within the program or in your life that you feel has been important to you succeeding on the track? 

LH: Yeah, definitely. My coaches—Kelly Sullivan was my coach for the first three years, and he was amazing. I really miss him, and then Jordana stepped in this year, and that’s been amazing. I love them both and definitely would not have been able to continue all four years without that. Also, my roommates. They are both on the track team, so that’s been super helpful, because we’re all kind of in it together. And my parents and my high school coaches. I have a big support system, and I would not be able to be here without them.

MD: Earlier you said that there’s this element of track that is about constantly pushing yourself to the maximum of what you can do. Are there any lessons or experiences that you have taken from that that have given you a new perspective on other aspects of your life? 

LH: Yeah, I think it’s one of the more unique aspects of track that a lot of other sports might not have. I definitely am comfortable being uncomfortable, which I feel like is a good skill to have in life. I’m going to keep running my whole life, so I think it’ll also help with that, too.

MD: Has there been anything unique to your experience in your track career that might not be typical in most people’s careers or that people might not know about? 

LH: I’ve struggled with diabetes, and I have cystic fibrosis, which is a respiratory disease. So, I’ve definitely had to overcome a lot with that, and it is super validating to my hard work pay off. It’s a cool way to show that I’m healthy and doing well… the fact that my body is able to run and perform so well, despite these diseases that I have, shows that I’m doing well managing them, which gives me confidence.

MD: Do you feel different on a run that you did well on or set a record on, as opposed to any other race? 

LH: I definitely feel like the ones that I’ve done well or set a record on I’ve been very mentally engaged and driven. I think it’s easy when I race so much to kind of check out sometimes. It’s like every weekend that we’re like trying to lock in mentally and physically which is kind of a lot, so I think that the ones that I’ve done well on, I can look back and think, ‘yeah, I was in it’.

Hargreaves will graduate with a degree in environmental studies, specializing in urban sustainability. She plans to continue to run and is excited to be able to commit time to her other hobbies, like biking. Meanwhile, the Seattle U track team is heading into summer training, and the athletes will be working hard to start strong next season and have a good showing in their first year in the West Coast Conference.