On Tap with ... Emily Easton

Emily Easton is a sophomore sprinter who lives in Wilson College. When she’s not on the track, the history major from Long Island enjoys animals, online shopping and taking a break from running. One of her greatest fears is distance running, which for sprinters consists of running for more than twenty minutes at one time or of crossing the finish line more than once in a single track event. Emily recently sat down with the 'Prince' to discuss her pre-race rituals, “The Wild Thornberrys” and a preference for racing over going to Lawnparties.

Q: Where are you from, and what’s the best part about being from there?

A: I’m from Manhasset on Long Island. The best part about it is probably the fact that it’s not New Jersey.

Q: When did you start running?

A: I started running in 10th grade, after quitting lacrosse. It was really dramatic at the time, probably the biggest decision I ever had to make up until then.

Q: What’s been the greatest moment of your track career so far?

A: Winning the 4x100-meter relay at the Ivy League Championships last year has probably been the greatest moment so far. Our relay wasn’t expected to win, but we just went out and had a really good race. It was the first time I’d won anything in my time at Princeton.

Q: Do you have a most embarrassing moment from your career?

A: I don’t have a specific embarrassing moment. I’m a very klutzy person, so over the last few years I’ve been dubbed among the most spastic on the team. I just cut my hand today doing baton handoffs; I didn’t even know that was possible. During a 4x100 relay last year, my teammates ran into me during the baton exchange, which would’ve been inexcusable for any other sprinter on the team. But my coach knows I’m a spazz, so he wasn’t that mad.

Q: If not track, what sport would you do, and why?

A: I would probably play squash, because you don’t have to run much and it’s limited inside a box. It also seems like a great way to get a lot of stress out of the way.

Q: Favorite track teammate?

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Q: That’s a tough question. [Sophomore sprinter] Emily Broyles is probably my favorite, though. We just mesh really well together.

A: Weirdest member of the track team?

Q: Well, we have a lot of weird people on the team. I think the cake goes to our sprinting coach, Coach [Thomas] Harrington. He sends us regular emails with random motivational things that have included Beyonce music videos and Disney songs. He wrote us a poem for Valentine’s Day, in which he spoke from the perspective of a woman who feels underappreciated by her man. All the sprinters got a copy of it. We love Coach Harrington, but that was just really weird.

Q: Are there any particular rituals that you and your teammates have before racing?

A: Our sprinters are a very ritual-y group. It’s pretty funny to see us getting on the racing blocks, since it’s always a huge OCD spectacle. Before I race, I normally just listen to music and then tend to jump a couple times and do a couple kicks before getting on the blocks.

Q: What is one thing that you dominate in off the track?

A: I win every argument I get into. I always have to be right. I probably dominate any other physical activity that I’m in against my friends, since most of them aren’t athletes and think that I can kill them.

Q: Rumor has it you take your bedroom decor rather seriously. Your thoughts?

A: I take my decorating very seriously. I’ve lived in a single both years at Princeton because I’m very neat, and will be rooming alone next year, too. Being in a single lets me create a color scheme for each school year, so that things like my bedspread, carpets and curtains all match. Last year, my color scheme was blue, this year it’s pink and I’m still deciding what to do for next year.

Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

A: Do magical powers count?

Q: Uh, sure.

A: Ok, I’d love to be able to talk to animals. I’m a big animal person. I’m friends with actual dogs on Facebook.

Q: You must be a big “The Wild Thornberrys” fan then.

A: Of course. I remember almost every episode. My friend used to do a great impersonation of Nigel Thornberry.

Q: Do you have a spirit animal, then?

A: Yes, but it isn’t that simple. I like to think I’m a mix of three animals. I’m part-rabbit because I apparently have a bounce when I walk. I’m also part-lion, because I’m pretty argumentative in nature and can be aggressive. Finally, I’m part-sloth because I like sloths and think they’re funny.

Q: So, track has [Heptagonals] coming up this Saturday and Sunday, [and Princeton is hosting]. What are your thoughts going into the weekend?

A: I’m really excited for Heps. We have a lot of good runners who can score well if they set their minds to it. [Freshman thrower] Julia Ratcliffe is one person that comes to mind who should score us a lot of points. Some of our mid-distance runners can score too, and hopefully our 4x100 will pull it together this weekend like we did last spring.

Q: Thoughts on missing Lawnparties?

A: Normally, I would say that it certainly sucks to miss Lawnparties. But this year, if I were to choose between listening to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, or going to one of the most exciting track meets of the season and watching people run around with almost no clothes on, I think the choice is pretty easy.