CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BigSouthSports.com) - The Big South Conference, in conjunction with Collegiate Partner Musco Sports Lighting, continues its new student-athlete feature called the "Musco Women's Spotlight," with VMI junior women's track & field runner Hannah Granger (Radnor, Pa.) as this month's profile.

With the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships later this month, Granger is a favorite to win several distance events for the Keydets.  She was the 2009 Big South Cross Country Runner of the Year and has already set a school record in the 3,000-meter run during the Indoor Track season.  In this month's profile, Granger touches on her vision for VMI's running sports, her love of horseback riding and the 22 different places she has lived.  Some responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

What age did you seriously begin running track and cross country?  I was very serious about running even before my high school season started because of the training program my Dad had for me.  Right before junior year I got injured, and deciding to get back into it afterwards was the turning point for me where I decided it wasn't just a fair weather sport, but was something that I wanted to pursue.

Who has inspired you most in your athletic career, and why?  I would have to say my Dad.  For sitting me down one day and telling me that I could be good at running if I wanted to be and worked really hard at it.  By running with me every day, he gave me all the tools that I needed to take it where I am today.  Without his guidance and support, as well as stories he told me on our runs, I would be clueless and lack the appreciation and respect for what it takes to really excel at cross country and distance running.

What is your most memorable collegiate experience (athletically)?  It would have to be standing up on the podium with my team getting the team Runner-Up trophy last fall at the Conference Championships.  Hands down.

What are some of your goals athletically?  Taking VMI's running sports to the next level, helping my younger teammates learn what they need to know in order to break my records, representing the USA as a Modern Pentathlete someday, to run all four years here without a season ending injury.

Why did you choose to attend VMI?  Initially I had absolutely no desire to come to VMI.  I was interested in military schools, because of the physical challenge, and the emphasis on working together as a team, but was dead set on going to West Point.  After making an official visit to VMI, even though I loved the team and really respected Coach Spangler, I just couldn't see myself coming to the Institute.  But I made another visit on my own just before Thanksgiving, and then realized how much the pros outnumbered the cons, and here I am three years later.

How do you want to be remembered when you leave VMI?  As someone who was able to make life just a little better for that person who was having a bad day, someone who was able to laugh even when everything seems to be going wrong.

What is your definition of a leader?  A good leader is someone who doesn't stand up with a sign saying "I'm a leader, listen to me," but rather ends up in the role by gaining the respect of his/her peers through demonstrating that they are capable of not only the tasks ahead, but has the people skills necessary for a cohesive team.  A real leader is someone who is willing and able to stand up to authority when necessary to defend their views in an educated and respectful way.

We've been told you have moved all your life due to your father's military background.  How many places have you lived, where, and how long?  Oh gosh, I've moved 22 times.  It all started in a tiny town in Massachusetts called Washington where I was born, to Lexington, Virginia where I am today and then everywhere in-between:  Pacific Grove and 29 Palms, California; Houston and Pearland, Texas; Port Townsend and Chimacum, Washington; Philadelphia, Fogelsville and Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Okinawa, Japan.  The longest time we lived in one house was probably for three years in Washington and the longest time we spent in one state was probably Texas for almost five years.

Which was your favorite and least favorite places to live, and why?  My favorite place to live was definitely Okinawa when I was 3 to 7 years old.  We lived off base in a village for the first few years where I was fluent in the dialect and had the complete run of the place.  Least favorite though... I don't know.  I guess I'd have to say, looking back on it, that my least favorite were my high school years in Washington state.  It was incredibly beautiful on the Peninsula but we lived in a dead end town.  That was a long, low period, even with my running success there.  Not much sun!

What were some memorable experiences from these places you lived?  Running errands to the corner shop in Okinawa for my Mom when I was 3 years old. There was no crime there, parents would leave their babies at home, sleeping, and not worry about anything happening to them.  Since Dad was in the Marines too, our family was essentially allowed to fly on any freight USAF plane for free, so we'd pack up and fly to Singapore or Tokyo for the weekend, something that I thought everyone did, and only when we came back to the States did I find out how fortunate I was to have had these opportunities and experiences.

You are one of seven children in your family - where do you fall in the order, and what is the breakdown of brothers and sisters, as well as the age differences?  I'm the oldest.  The next in line is Sarah (19) at the University of Chicago, then Sophia (17), Fodi (16), Anastasia (13), Timothy (11) and Zossima (9).  Sophia and Fodi are our Okinawa twins, both born there, Fodi just 6 months after Sophia and we adopted him at birth.

What was it like growing up in a large family with the constant moving, and how is it today?  Every move was an adventure for us, a new experience.  Even though we didn't have the stability of living in the same house our whole life, I think it brought us closer together as a family, and taught us that a physical building wasn't necessarily the most important element for a well-grounded family.

Tell us a little about your homeschooled experiences.  Was there an adjustment period, how different is it from attending school, etc.?  People always ask me if I feel like I 'missed out' somehow, being homeschooled my whole life. Absolutely not. All of us were very involved in sports and music, either through the public schools, home school groups, or local clubs, so we were never lacking for social contact.  I really consider myself fortunate to have escaped high school without getting caught up in all the drama involved with public school.  Instead I was able to focus on my sport, my school work, and not having a set school schedule allowed for me to work a few jobs and get some real life experience.

This is a two-part question.  Describe the transition from being a homeschooled student to entering a college setting -- what were some of the challenges and difficulties you experienced, and what did you do to overcome them?  The biggest transition was probably the academic load.  I wasn't really used to all the classes.  I took advantage of the very close student to teacher ratio, and built strong relationships with my teachers, which really saved me since they were able to help me get accustomed to everything and learn what they were expecting from me.  Being homeschooled actually gave me an advantage I think, even with respect to the classroom.  It has taught me to be self directed and to seek help on my own.

What are some of the challenges you face on a daily basis by attending a military institution?  I'd have to say the lack of sleep is the biggest challenge here.  Not being allowed to leave when you want to can get really aggravating too, of course. Things are obviously different here than at regular college, and there are plenty of everyday hassles of formations and inspections and uniforms, but they're really no more than that, a hassle.

You are VMI's first-ever individual Big South champion, and you've already been very successful in a short amount of time at VMI.  What is your take on these accomplishments?  I really can't take full credit for what I've been able to accomplish here.  Without the support of my family and friends and coaches, absolutely none of this would have been possible.  But I think a huge reason I have been able to be successful here at VMI, is the real reason I chose to come here in the first place.  I work best when on a team, and the things we go through here, every day as upperclassmen, and the ratline for the first few months here, really brings everyone together, into one giant team in a sense.  There are so, so many people here, who believe in me, and expect me to represent VMI when I go out and run that I really can't help but go out there and try my best to live up to their expectations.  

Do these achievements create new pressures on yourself to be successful each time you race?  Maybe a little. But every time anyone gets ready to race, their goal is to do something better than last time.  Run a smarter race, a better time, etc.  I think having accomplished something that no one else has ever done for VMI, has actually enforced something for me that my Dad taught me from the very beginning.  That you can only worry about your race.  You can't control anyone else's outcome, so if you train to the best of your ability and run your race, you can't be disappointed with the result.  With that perspective, it helps takes away some of the pressures I may put on myself all the time.

Do you have any aspirations to run professionally?  What about running a marathon (and which one)?  Not at all. Absolutely no professional aspirations.  I can't imagine entirely giving up running, just because I'd like to stay in shape, but I have no hopes or dreams of taking it to the next level once my college career is over.  And I've promised myself to never run a marathon.  Ever.  Too long!  One time I took a wrong turn on a run and went for almost 17 miles. That was fun enough, but training for a marathon looks entirely insane.  I wouldn't mind possibly running some half marathons though, but that's it.

What do you want to do once your running career is over?  Maybe get back into the Equestrian scene.  I rode very seriously for more than seven years before having to choose which direction I wanted to focus on in high school, since I couldn't put all my energy into running when I was spending hours at the barn every day, and vice versa.  I chose running since it had the possibility of helping me get into college, but someday would like the opportunity to get back into riding.

How will your experiences as a Big South student-athlete help you in your future career?  I've learned so much about time management, not just from VMI -- which is famous for instilling that trait in cadets, but then add athletics on top of being a regular student, and it becomes quite the juggling act.  I have barracks and team responsibilities on top of a full class load. I'm also an academic mentor.

If you could spend one day with a sports superstar, who would it be?  [Track & field runner] Gerry Lindgren

If you could date a celebrity, who would it be?  Johnny Depp

What was your First Job?  I volunteered a couples days a week at Wabash Antique and Feed store (bizarre combination of goods, yes?) when I was 9 until I first started working seriously at the barn when I turned 10.  But first 'real' job with a paycheck was as a cashier at Whole Foods Market.

Take a road trip anywhere, where would it be?  The Grand Canyon.  In all our travels, we never did stop by there.

What's in your iPod?  Whatever the person I borrow from likes.  I never got around to getting one for some reason.

Who would you love to trade places with?  Any VMI graduate

Something about yourself that most people wouldn't know?  That my left leg is just a little bit shorter than my right after having my hamstring torn when I was attacked by a pack of dogs.  Or that I can wiggle my ears.

Talent you would most like to have?  To be able to play the guitar really well or have a photographic memory

Favorite values in others?  Sense of humor and loyalty

Favorite TV shows?  I really don't watch TV shows... but I do like the few episodes I've seen of The Office.

TV character you are most like?  I've been compared to the squirrel from Over The Hedge

Favorite sports event?  3 day eventing

Favorite vacation spot?  Either the beach or out hiking

Favorite athlete?  [Former Czech Olympic Runner] Emil Zatopek

Websites you visit daily?  Facebook

What is your "Dream Job"?  Work with the canine unit in the FBI.

Name of a movie you know all the lines to?  Talladega Nights

READ THE PREVIOUS "MUSCO WOMEN'S SPOTLIGHTS"
Whitney Tarver, High Point
Rachel Wisehart, Liberty
Nichole Diller, Charleston Southern
Lisa Sickman, Winthrop