JEFF FIELDER Editor
MORRILL – Paityn Homan, a sophomore on Morrill High School’s cross country team, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. She had a superb cross country season, capped by placing 22nd at the Nebraska state meet in 21:25. She also participates in basketball, track, FFA and FBLA. Her parents are Shane and Keri Homan.
Q: How pleased were you with your performance at the state cross country meet?
HOMAN: “I was really proud of my performance. Last year I went to state as a freshman, and my goal was just to see where I was at. [She placed 59th.] I was proud of myself for making it to state last year, but for my sophomore year, I set a goal to get in the top 25 at state. I was ranked 27th going into state, and I ended up getting 22nd, so I was really excited. I was running in 25th place for the first half of the race, but then I moved up in the second half of the race. In about the last half mile, I stayed 22nd.”
Q: Were you pleased with your time?
HOMAN: “My personal record for my career is 21:24, so I was only one second off of that. But my PR was set in Bayard, which is one of the flattest courses we run. Kearney has one of the hilliest course I’ve ever seen. So, [her time at state] was really impressive.”
Q: How did you like the way your sophomore cross country season went overall?
HOMAN: “I had hip problems last year at the beginning of the year, so I was out for half the season. This year I haven’t had any injuries; my hip hasn’t bothered me at all. I definitely improved. Not only can you tell that with my state meet placing but also with my times. I definitely moved up, and I placed in the top five at almost every meet. In most of our bigger meets, I placed in the top 10 so I was able to medal. I medaled at every meet this season except at state.”
Q: How many years have you been running long distances?
HOMAN: “For as long as I can remember. My mom always put me in the 5Ks or the 1-mile kid runs.”
Q: Of all the sports you compete in, which one do you enjoy the most?
HOMAN: “Probably cross country. I’ve always enjoyed running. I find it peaceful, and it makes me feel good about myself.”
Q: What do you think about when you’re running?
HOMAN: “At practice, I think about random stuff that I don’t even remember when I’m done running. But during meets, I think about what place I’m in.“
Q: What’s the farthest you’ve ever run?
HOMAN: “This summer our cross country team went up to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and we ran a 10K. That’s the farthest I’ve ever run.”
Q: How did that race go?
HOMAN: “I got first in my age division. It was over the Fourth of July. We went as a team, and we stayed overnight. We went to Evans Plunge after that. We had a lot of fun. I think we’re planning to do that again because it was nice little getaway.”
Q: Now that the cross country season is over, have you started preparing for the basketball season?
HOMAN: “Yes. The first week of basketball season we do conditioning, so I’ve still been running to stay in shape for that. Every now and then during the cross country season, I would go in the gym to practice basketball.”
Q: How excited are you for the basketball season?
HOMAN: “I’m excited for the season. It’s a totally different environment than cross country. It’s a change of pace for me, but I definitely enjoy the basketball season. It’s fun to hang around the other girls.”
Q: What’s your favorite non-sports activity?
HOMAN: “FFA. I do parliamentary procedure. I’m the chairman for that, and I also participate in livestock judging.”
Q: In your opinion, who do you think is the kindest student at Morrill High School this year?
HOMAN: “I’d say Courtney Haskins. She’s a senior. She’s a student aide in a few of my classes, and she’s really good about helping my other classmates. She’s super nice to us.”
Q: What do you think is the neatest attraction in the WyoBraska area?
HOMAN: “Chimney Rock is pretty cool.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Morrill, which one would it be and why?
HOMAN: “I would give a shoutout to WESTCO in Morrill because they’ve always supported me in all of my sports. Whenever I go to them for any kind of sponsorship, they always sponsor me. They’ve sponsored me for my softball team and for my basketball team, and I know they sponsor our FFA a lot, too. So, WESTCO has always been a place that I know I can count on to help me with my fundraisers. They’re really good about that, and I appreciate it.”
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
HOMAN: “I like to watch Fixer Upper on HGTV.”
Q: What type of music do you like to listen to?
HOMAN: “Country music.”
Q: What is your favorite cell phone app?
HOMAN: “Probably Snapchat.”
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?
HOMAN: “I really like Ole [in Scottsbluff] or the Steel Grill [in Gering]. It just depends on what mood I’m in.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
HOMAN: “Yes, I have a younger brother, Taylor. He just turned 12.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in November to the Veterans & Military Families Emergency Relief Organization.
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
