For the last five season, senior and captain Michelle Newblom has been an important part of Seattle U track and field. Newblom holds four program records with times of 8.74 in the 60m hurdles, 14.51 in the 110m hurdles and she was apart of two relay teams, the 4x100 and 4x400, with times of 46.85 and 3:52.62 respectively. Seattle University Athletics recently took the time to meet with Newblom to learn more about her time at Seattle U and what her plans might be for the future.
Q. Why did you choose to return to Seattle U?
A: It was honestly a tough decision for me, I know some others realized right away that they wanted to come back but I was on the fence for a few months. I had some pretty concrete plans that obviously got thrown out the window when the pandemic happened, so for awhile I was holding on to hope that they might still happen. I enjoyed my time at Seattle U and I especially loved running track. I was devastated when my season got cut short and I never felt like I got to reach my potential.
The only thing holding me back was that I wanted to start progressing my "adult life" and I didn't want to feel like I was wasting another year at college again. I talked with my teammate Kailan who also returned this year and he really put things into perspective for me and was a pretty big influence on me coming back. Now, I can say that I'm extremely happy I made this choice. I genuinely don't know what I would be doing or where I would be if I didn't come back. I found the job I work at now partly because I returned, I moved back to Seattle obviously, and I'm not sure where my life would be at if I decided against, so I'm glad I didn't.
Q. Have you decided what you want to do after graduation?
A: I currently work full-time at a company called LexBlog that is entirely remote, so that makes things a bit more flexible for me. I have a lease here in Seattle until September, but after that I'd really like to move somewhere else and experience some more of the world. Washington has been nothing but good to me, but there are so many places I'd like to explore and live.
Originally last year, I was supposed to move to Italy in September and do some part-time work at a magazine. I'm still extremely interested in living abroad and if all is safe (or safer), I'd really like to see that plan to fruition. If not there, I'd like to move to New York or somewhere on the East Coast. My dream career is in the publishing industry and that's where most of the big publishing houses are, so I should probably move over to where the action is. It's just me and my cat, so wherever I go, he'll come along!
Q. What's the one thing you look forward to the most on meet day?
A: I think just getting to compete. I've always been pretty much the only person on my team doing my event, so I normally warm up by myself and get ready by myself. Track is a more independent sport by nature, but I do appreciate that I get to compete by myself but still have a supportive team. I love being able to get out there and feel like I'm giving something my 100% both mentally and physically.
Q. What is your favorite memory as a Redhawk?
A: I have a few—obviously anytime I've broken one of my records has been a vivid memory. I feel like a broken record because I think both of us have told this story a lot, but last year at one of the indoor Idaho meets both Regie Grady and I broke school records and it was just a really awesome time. I had a bad prelims race and I was kind of sulking by myself and she came and just hyped me up and really turned my mood around and got me excited for the finals. Then, I won the meet and broke my own school record.
We both ran the 200 later and I tried to feed that positive energy back to her and she broke that record! It was just a great experience being supportive teammates and that one always sticks with me. Other than that, in 2019 I got sixth place at conference finals in the 100 hurdles and got to make the podium with my family there, which is something I never thought would happen my freshman year. Indoor conference last year too, breaking my record at 8.74 and qualifying third for finals was another amazing feeling.
Q. How has being a student athlete at Seattle U made an impact on you as a person?
A: It's definitely made me more hardworking and patient. Obviously not every practice and not every race goes your way, so it's taught me to accept some defeats while simultaneously looking forward and not getting caught up in the negatives. Having to maintain school and work and a sport takes a lot, but that balance and having to put forth your best effort when feeling overwhelmed is a good life skill I can take with me outside of Seattle U. I'm thankful to have had a great experience at this school, both as a student and as an athlete. I'll never forget the teammates and coaches and teachers that have really impacted me along the way.