University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
One Week 'Till Bulldog Cross Country
08.27.2016 | Cross Country
Asheville, N.C.- Only one week remains until UNC Asheville's men's and women's cross country teams kick off their 2016 season at the Western Carolina Invitational in Cullowhee on Saturday, September 3. In order to prepare fans for the upcoming season, meet senior, Nathan Kirse.
Kirse returns to Asheville as one of seven Bulldog seniors. In 2015, he ran a 26:13.2 8K at the Asheville XC Carnival early in the season. The Winston- Salem native recorded a personal best in the 5K with a time of 15:54.9 at the WCU Fast Cat Invitational placing him 2nd overall in race.
What is you Major:
My major is Physics.
What is your favorite part about UNC Asheville?
My favorite part of UNCA is the close knit relationship you have with your peers and your faculty. I have gotten to know all of the physics majors fairly well. I also have good relationships with my professors.
What are your post-school plans?
My post-school plans are still up in the air but I will most likely be headed to grad school for Astronomy or some other related field.
Why did you choose Asheville?
There are many reasons I chose Asheville. One of the big reasons was that UNCA has small class sizes. It is something that I thought would really fit my learning style. The reputation Asheville has as a city also helped a lot in my decision.
How long have you been running?
In the 7th grade I tried out for the track team and did not make it. My 9th grade year my mother encouraged me to join a sport so I joined my high school cross country team, which did not have try-outs. I have been running year-round since then.
Who has been your biggest influence in you sport?
My High School coach and my mother. My mom encouraged me to try out this sport I had no precious training in, despite my doubts. Coach Cromwell's guidance gave me a love the sport, hence why I am still running today.
What are three things you can't live without?
Taquitos, My Telescope, Water.
What's your favorite food?
Taquitos
What nicknames do you have?
Nasty Nathan, or "Nasty" for short.
Do you have a favorite class you've taken here?
Observational Astronomy II. Detected my first exoplanet for a project in that class.
When I'm not on the course/ track, I am…
Stressing over Physics/Astronomy homework.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
The large team size. We have about 16 guys on the XC team this year, nearly half are freshman so it feels almost like an entirely new team. The team dynamic will be different, it is exciting to see what we will be able to do when we are all committed and running for each other.
What's something most people may not know about you?
Exoplanet research has been a main focus for me this past year. I hope to publish a paper what will contribute to either the confirmation or falsification of at least one exoplanet.
Do you have a favorite place you've visited?
Japan. Visited there this summer. It was my first time being to another country other than Canada. Since that trip, I have been learning Japanese. I hope to return and maybe live there for a year or two.
