Karen Wigal

McNair Scholar

Karen has improved greatly since arriving on campus. Her 5K PR has dropped from 19:10 in high school to 17:47 … Last year an old high school basketball knee injury flared up, and Karen was red-shirted. She reached full recovery during the spring and has had a good summer of training … Karen and Coach Rosenthal have high expectations for this season … While in high school, Karen won the West Virginia state cross country championships as a senior and led her team to the state title. She also won the 2 mile during track season … Her class valedictorian, Karen is one of two McNair Scholars on the team, USC[apos]s highest academic honor … Won the bronze medal at the National Chemical Engineers Conference for her undergraduate research project on catalysis … Karen was born May 15, 1985 to Gary and Grace Wigal.

WHY CAROLINA?

‘The academic and athletic opportunities as well as the weather during the winter months.’

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN RUNNING?

‘Everything. There is a lot of time to think during a long run.’