Freedom's just another word for Blaine runner's pet cow

Blaine cross-country standout Sarah Olson lives for summer visits to a friend's farm.

Sleeping in the hayloft. Waking up early. Helping milk cows and even shoveling their manure. Olson loves it all.

A strong work ethic also has pushed Olson, an eighth-grader, to a breakout season. Her time of 15 minutes, 15 seconds at the St. Francis Invitational on Sept. 11 was more than 30 seconds faster than her previous best.

Five days later she finished in 14:58 at the Big Lake Invitational. Last weekend, Olson placed 12th in the girls' 4A race at the Milaca Mega Meet, the largest meet in Minnesota. Her time did not drop but she still ranked as the fastest of three eighth-graders in the top 20.

Olson is in her second season running varsity cross-country. She was one of a handful of seventh- and eighth-grade athletes to gain special approval to compete for varsity teams at the five high schools in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

She spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about breaking the 15-minute barrier, a love of farming and her pet cow.

Q: How much of a thrill was it for you and your older brother, Ben, to be approved to run varsity last year?

Q: How did the varsity experience help you as a runner and as a young woman?

A: It gave me a lot more confidence knowing that I could run with older kids. The team was super nice to me so it was all pretty good.

Q: Did you enhance your summer training schedule before this season?

A: I upped my miles quite a bit, to about 300. My brother, cousin and I also went on a bike trip in South Dakota. We biked about 50 miles a day in the Black Hills. I definitely felt different coming into the year; I felt like a better runner.

Q: What allowed you to put it all together at Big Lake and break the 15-minute barrier?

Q: How did you become obsessed with farming?

A: We have a family cabin right next to [the Brinkman] farm in Melrose. And one of my best friends lives on the farm. I've just always loved it there.

Q: And how did you come to have a pet cow?

A: Ever since I was little I've wanted to get a dog for Christmas. I got a fish instead. So one day I said, 'If I can't have a dog, I want a cow.' So my uncle talked to the farmer there, farmer Mark, and he decided to get me a cow on their farm for Christmas last year. Her name is Freedom because she was born on the Fourth of July.