Emma Hoffman’s senior year has looked a little different from the ones before it. After spending her first few high school years building consistency and confidence, she’s stepped into this season with a new sense of belief. Over the past few weeks, Emma has raced her way to a Michigan state title, a runner-up finish at NXR Midwest, and her strongest stretch of performances yet.

Now she’s preparing for NXN this weekend with a deep appreciation for how far she’s come. She credits her teammates for keeping the sport fun, her faith for grounding her when pressure rises, and a string of breakthroughs that helped her trust that she belonged at this level. With one more high school track season ahead and her future set at the University of Colorado, Emma reflects on her progression in the sport, the ups and downs that shaped her, and the moments that helped her confidence grow throughout this season.

This interview has been edited lightly for clarity and length.

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Jasmine Fehr: When did you get your start in running and how would you describe your journey to where you are now?

Emma Hoffman: I started running in sixth grade. My parents had me try lots of different sports, literally every sport you could think of. They were like, ‘You should try running.’ My sister ran for a little bit, so I was like, ‘That sounds fun!’ I started in sixth grade and at the first practice I fell in love with it. I was gasping to keep up with all the older girls, but I had so much fun. It's definitely been an up and down journey. It hasn't always been easy, especially in middle school, but consistency and building up [training] has led me to where I am now.

How would you describe your high school progression?

I would definitely describe it as surreal because I didn't really start as a national level runner in my freshman year. I was kind of an average runner fighting in local races to get first place. It's definitely surreal to be at this point now. It’s been a really fun journey.

You finished second at NXR Midwest a few weeks ago. How did the race play out from your perspective and what are some of your takeaways from it?

That was a really fun race! It's really fun to be able to compete with people and have other runners around you the whole time. I was really happy with that race. Natasha [Dudek] is a really good athlete and everyone kind of knew she was going to be able to win. But in your head, you always try to convince yourself that you're able to keep up with those people. It was a really good race and I think my key takeaways are focusing on going out a little more conservatively and holding on for a little bit longer. Overall, I had so much fun and learned a lot from that race.

Does that race boost your confidence heading into NXN this weekend?

It was definitely a confidence builder. I didn’t really think I would be able to get second. In my head, I thought I would be fighting for the fifth spot. I'm definitely a little bit more confident and what I learned is going to help going into the national meet this weekend.

How are you approaching these final few days leading into NXN?

Just not overworking. A lot of times when you think about a national meet, you're like, ‘I should be doing this and this and this.’ I'm going into it doing the same things I've done because it's worked so far this season. This is a really cool opportunity that I would have died for last year. I'm staying excited and treating it as a cool thing to do instead of something scary or something that I have to change a bunch of stuff for.

A few weeks before NXR, you won the Michigan State title after finishing runner-up last year. Can you share a little about how the race went for you?

That was another great race and I had a lot of fun! I had gotten second my freshman year and junior year and I had this deep goal of not getting second again. Katie Berkshire was in that race – she’s a really good competitor – so I was like, ‘I’ve just got to go out hard!’ I also wanted to focus on that last mile, really give it everything, and not have any regrets about that race.

Your team also finished second! How would you describe your team and what has it been like training with them for one last season?

Our team this year has been the dream team! They're all just the nicest people. We’re also a really young team. I think we had five freshmen on our varsity team, which is insane! This team has been amazing. Going to practice everyday, they motivate you to work harder and do better. When you're racing and get tired, you're not racing for yourself anymore; you're racing for those girls. Nothing I’ve done this season could have been done without them. They motivate me everyday, make it fun, and make it exciting. It's overall great. Being on a team is so fun!

Do you have a favorite workout that's helped your confidence this season?

I've been doing a lot of 10x1K workouts and then cutting them down at the end. It's been really great because I've been good at starting hard in all my races throughout high school, but not very good at keeping that momentum. Starting easier for those 10x1Ks and then cutting them down has been a great workout to help with that. Once I get to 4K in races, I'm like, ‘You know you can run a fast last 1K!’ That gives me a lot of confidence.

You also had a huge track season this spring. Was there a specific moment or race where things just started clicking for you?

I think it started with the indoor track season last year. I was disappointed with how my cross country season ended last year. During indoor season, I shocked myself with the times and places I got. Once you have one race where you gain a lot of confidence, it's huge because you can believe in yourself then. I haven’t really changed my training much, but my confidence and trust in God and His timing has really helped with the difference in my times.

You're joining Colorado next fall. What drew you to the Buffs’ program and led to your decision?

It's my dream school! The location is amazing and the girls on the team are all so genuine and hardworking. The coaches are really good, but they're not just there to coach you as an athlete; they're also there to coach you as a person and support you along the way. It's exciting to see the team’s rise from last year to this year. When I went [on my recruiting visit], I fell in love. I told my dad after the first few hours of being there, ‘This is where I want to go!’ The environment is really welcoming and I instantly felt at home there.

Looking ahead to track season, what are some of your goals for finishing out your high school career?

I really want to get in more competitive races and get used to having people around me because I know that's what it’ll be like at the collegiate level. I'm not focused too much on times, more on pushing myself to the limits and getting the most out of what I can do. I want to have fun throughout it and see what I can do with good competition around me.

What are some of your favorite quotes that you take with you into training and racing?

I usually put a temporary tattoo of a Bible verse on my arm for each race. Most of them are about trusting God and trusting the process and His timing over your own timing. It helps me stay grounded and know that it's really not that big of a deal. God knows what's going to happen, He knows the results, and He's going to be there to guide you to the finish line. If He doesn't, there's a reason and something to learn from that.

What’s the best piece of advice that your coach has given you?

To have no regrets and give everything you have on the day. You'll be happy if you can walk away and say you gave everything. No regrets like ‘I should have done this or that.’ Just push as hard as you can during the race and don’t focus on anything else.

If you could go for a run with anyone, who would it be and why?

That's a good question! Maybe Parker Valby. She seems really talkative and would be a fun person to go on a run with. You wouldn't get bored!

Thanks for reading! This interview is part of our 2025 Nike Cross Nationals Series, where we’re catching up with some of the top high school athletes in the country as they prepare for the biggest meet of the fall. Stay tuned for more Q&As with the rising stars of high school distance running.