SEASIDE, Calif. — For Sidney Logsdon, choosing Cal State Monterey Bay was as much about the people as it was about the place. "I choose CSUMB, first because of how close-knit an environment the cross country team has, and how welcome I felt during my tour here," she said. The proximity to the ocean didn't hurt either. "It is a mile from the beach as well"
The warmth she felt on that first visit has defined her experience ever since. "Having such a close team environment has honestly just made my experience so much better," Sidney said. Under Coach Greg Rhines' guidance, the team has become a community that lifts one another—on and off the course.
Ask Sidney about her favorite part of being an Otter, and she doesn't hesitate: "The best part of my collegiate running experience so far has just been the team experience." For a cross country runner, that sense of togetherness is everything. "You want to be able to enjoy spending time with your teammates because you are running with them all the time and you have to spend a lot of time together, especially doing hard things together."
Traveling to meets has created some of her most memorable moments. "We've traveled to San Bernardino and Riverside, and the experience has just been so fun—going on a bus, spending the night in a hotel with my teammates, and being able to just compete at such a high level," she said. Racing against Division I programs pushed her to new heights. "Just being able to race against them is so amazing."
Sidney came to CSUMB with a clear target in mind. "My hopes to accomplish individually this year was to be able to break 22 minutes in the 6K," she said. Coming from a small high school, she hadn't had many chances to race in large fields. The new environment brought out her best.
"When I first came here, I actually had already reached my goal," she said, smiling. And then she went even faster. "This last race, I actually hit a 21:46 on a full 6K course, so I shattered my previous goal." With that breakthrough, her mindset shifted. "Now all I can do is just keep lowering my goals and just continue to get better—putting in a lot of effort, staying positive, and having fun with it."
Life in the classroom has been a new challenge—and one she's embraced. "The college experience for me in the classroom has actually been really good," Sidney said. "I definitely have homework now and I actually have to put in more effort than I did in high school."
She credits her professors for helping ease the transition. "All the teachers are really good at communicating with you about all the things you have to do," she said. And she's discovered that the syllabus is her best friend. "You also have to just read the syllabus, which really explains all that the teacher is expecting out of you."
While she's still knocking out general education courses, she's enjoyed exploring new subjects. "I'm in a business class right now and it's been interesting learning about different colleges," she said. "I have actually liked going to class and learning new things."
Sidney's ambitions reach far beyond the finish line. "My main goal that I plan to achieve after I graduate from CSUMB is that I would like to be a physician's assistant," she said. Graduate school is the next step. "My goal is to be able to go to PA school first and go to graduate school and be able to become a PA."
And she's already thinking bigger. "Hopefully one day I'm able to open my own practice," she said. With the determination she's shown on the course, it's clear she's on her way."
GO OTTERS!
