Sophia Park

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
Mid-distance
Height:
5-8
Hometown:
North Brunswick, N.J.
Prev School:
The Wilberforce School

TFRRS Profile

2024 Outdoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Stepped up for fifth place in the CUSA steeplechase final and took 20^th in the 5K
Recorded a personal-best 11:36.49 steeplechase at the Virginia Challenge
WildCat Track Festival 1,500 champion in a personal-best 4:44.11
Paced the Lady Flames with a personal-best 18:11.51 5K at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational
CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal winner
CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member

2023-24 Indoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Fastest times of the year included 2:24.12 (Liberty Open 800), 5:08.94 (Liberty Open mile) and 10:40.77 (Brant Tolsma Invitational 3K)

2023 Cross Country (Fr.)

Clocked 19:39.1 for 68^th place in the Eye Opener 5K in her collegiate debut
Her season-best 6K time of 23:05.2 placed 32^nd in the Paul Short Run open race and second among the Lady Flames’ entrants.

Prep

Graduated from The Wilberforce School
Helped her team capture three New Jersey state titles (two in cross country and one in track & field)
As a senior, helped her 4 x 800 relay team win the New Jersey Meet of Champions title in a school-record 9:16.22. She was also part of the rising stars championship team in the New Balance Outdoor Nationals distance medley relay
Set multiple school records in the 1,600 with a best mark of 5:06.88. She also clocked a 2:18.52 800.

Personal

Daughter of Benjamin and Jee Park
Older sister Bethany Park ran track and cross country at Liberty
Birthday is May 19
Business administration major

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
God really orchestrated my path to attending and competing at Liberty. The integration of faith and competition is special. It's such a blessing to compete for this team which understands that our true purpose and identity is outside of the sport.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I pray to the Lord pre and post-race. Beforehand, I invite him along into my race and ask for his guidance. Afterword, I thank him for sustaining me through the pain.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My parents inspire me as they live out true faith daily.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
My most memorable athletic moment was either the race where my senior year high school cross country team won the state title or when we won the DMR Rising Stars at new balance nationals.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My older sister Bethany Park ran Cross Country and Track at Liberty her freshman year of college.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
My favorite meal is definitely dinner, and it would have to be anything that my Korean grandmother cooks!

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
I check messages.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
Either playing guitar and singing or playing basketball.

Do you have any current pets (name and type of animal)?
I have an orange cat named Cupcake (Cuppy), a white cat named Noel, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Duke.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
My dad.

What is your favorite possession and why?
My Bible - Gifted to me by one of my best friends, it has much sentimental value to me. It's living and active! The key to life, and reading it is the best part of the day. I could not live without it.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
You're Welcome from Moana.

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
My dream vacation would be Korea. I've always wanted to visit the country of my heritage and see the world my grandmother left behind to move to America.