Peoria Notre Dame girls swimmer Sophie Gast and Delavan cross country runner Coriell Green became the latest winners of CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Presented by Dominos after receiving the most votes in their respective polls last week.
Gast starred for the Irish in the pool during a tri-meet against Pekin and Mahomet-Seymour on Oct. 15, leading PND with four podium finishes. Green wrapped up his regular season by taking first place at the Peoria Heights Patriot Invitational for his first title of the season.
Read more about our winners and get to know them in Q and A’s below.
Gast won CSM Girls Athlete of the Week with 48 percent of the vote total in the girls poll. The Irish standout totaled two first-place and two second-place finishes in a tri-meet with Pekin and Mahomet-Seymour on Oct. 15, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 5:24.48 and helping PND win the 200-yard freestyle relay. Gast took second in the 200-yard freestyle while also helping lead the Irish 400-yard freestyle relay to a runner-up finish. Recently, she finished second at the Big 12 Conference Meet in the 500 free with a season-best clocking of 5:20.76 and third in the 200 free in 2:01.29.
Get to know Gast in a Q and A here:
What’s been your favorite memory of the season/offseason so far?
“My favorite memories of this season was hopping in a lane with my friend Kate everyday and seeing what unhinged things she had to say.”
If you had to be stranded on an island with a teammate, who would it be and why?
“If I had to be stranded on an island with a teammate I would definitely choose Sydney [Stickelmaier] or Kate [Fitzjarrald]. They would keep things very positive and they would make me laugh. Kate also could hunt and feed us.”
Favorite music artist?
“My favorite music artists would have to be Taylor Swift or Megan Moroney.”
Favorite food?
“My favorite food is steak.”
Do you have any pregame routines/rituals?
“Before every meet, I like to eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Before every race I like to slap my arms and legs and just jump around and dance.”
Who’s your favorite college or professional athlete?
“My favorite professional athlete is JJ McCarthy or Bobby Finke.”
Do you have any hidden talents?
“Sadly, I am not aware of any hidden talents I possess. Although I can read really fast and for a very long time without stopping.”
Who’s your role model and why?
“My role model is Nic Fink because he balances a whole work life with his swim career. He loves to swim and doesn’t let his age stop him.”
Green won CSM Boys Athlete of the Week by garnering 36 percent of the total votes in the boys’ poll. The Delavan sophomore beat out runners from 33 other teams at the Peoria Heights Patriot Invitational at Detweiller Park on Oct. 19, finishing the three-mile course in a personal-best 15:23.6. Green followed it up by winning the Class 1A Olympia Regional on Oct. 26 with a time of 15:45.7 for his second win in two straight meets.
As of Wednesday morning, Green had not responded to a Q and A inquiry; this story will be updated if answers are provided.