The Team Is The Key For Korrigan Dierks


Korrigan Diercks, Class of 2020 - Saint Charles High School


What are all your personal records?  What State Meet competitions have you been in, and what were your results?

In the past, I have run a 53-second 400 meter split, 2:00 in the 800m, 4:33 in the mile, 10:38 in the 2 mile, and in cross country I have ran a 17:10 5k.

For State Meets, I am very proud and honored to say I have been on a team that has gone to True Team State twice while I have been in the program. In 2017, our team got 3rd in True Team State, and we went back in 2018 we got 4th. For the MSHSL Championship, I have been to 3 meets, 2 for track and 1 for cross country. For track, the 4x800m relay had made it to State in 2017 and the relay finished 9th overall. In 2018 I made it to State in the 800m run and got 13th overall. For my only season of cross country in 2018, I made it to State and got 81st overall.


What is your favorite or most memorable competition you've ever been in?

My favorite time ever on this track team was when the 4x800m relay that went to State in my 9th grade year. We were a special group of boys, and very good friends.


Who are some of your favorite athletes to compete against?

My favorite athletes to compete against was a former high school runner for Lake City, Carl Kozlowski. He was an amazing 800m runner and an excellent role model to anyone in the sport. While competing or not competing. And currently I like to compete against a runner from Cotter, Wil Modjeski, another excellent 800m runner.


Who are some people that have been most helpful to you in your athletic career, and how have they helped you?

Some of the people that helped most for my running career have been coaches and teammates. The coaches have helped me tremendously and I would not have had the success that I have without them. They taught me how to race. I have also had some tremendous teammates since I have started. Every member of that 4x800m relay team has helped with a lot of good advice, and I had raced under their wing because I was the youngest and least experienced of that group. For cross country, my teammate Axel Daood has really helped me and taught me a lot about patience and how to run a 5k.


Who might we find cheering for you at competitions?  

Often times at meets you will find a lot of friends cheering me on, especially the ones who are on the track team, they care a lot about how I do and the team does as a whole. You will also find some family, usually my dad, my mom, my brother, and my grandma cheering at most meets. And finally you will see coaches, two in particular cheering me on. Those coaches would be the boys' head coach, Coach Klein and the long distance coach, Coach Edlund. These coaches that cheer me on are a great help because they are the only people I can hear during my race because I get tunnel vision and listen to them for advice while I race.


What are your main goals for this track season?

My main goals are to improve and have fun. I want my times or places or preferably both to improve, but I also don't want to forget the love for this sport.


What are you and your teammates looking forward to the most this year?

The whole team is looking forward to another fun filled year with some success. That goes for me as well, I look forward to having a lot of fun at track meets, cheering my teammates on and also running with the long distance crew.


Do you plan on continuing with track and XC after high school? If so, what are you looking for in a potential programs?

I actually do plan to continue both with track and XC after high school. I am looking for a program that has that family atmosphere, I want to enjoy going to practice and meets. I also want a program that can make me the best runner I possibly can, I am a very competitive person.


Do you have any rituals, routines, or superstitions either on or off the track?

The only things I will do before meets is listen to music, and make sure I have my lucky racing socks. But often the night before I will do my best to stay hydrated and I will actually meditate for 10-30 minutes.


When not doing anything track-related, what might we find you doing?

Times when I am not running or doing schoolwork are rare during this time of year, but when I don't run or do not have homework, I will often be working on the farm that I live on, or will make my best effort to go out to eat or just have a fun time with my close friends.


Tell me one bizarre fact about yourself.

Many people are shocked when they here this, but I do not like ice cream. Even on the warmest of days I will not eat ice cream.