Tennessee has sent a lot of athletes to the SEC.
Ellie Bachmann is one of the latest to take her talents to the Southeastern Conference.
She's headed to T-Town and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Earlier this season, we caught up with her to talk about her decision to head to Alabama.
Here's what she had to say about the commitment she made this past fall.
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What made you decide on Alabama?
I really liked Coach Palmer and Coach Waters. Coach Palmer was one of the first coaches to reach out to me. I can tell that he really cares about how his athletes do both on the track and in the classroom. I was very impressed with Coach Palmer's coaching philosophy and the importance of paying attention to the "little things." Also I feel like I fit in really well with the team at Alabama.
What kind of communication have you had with the coaches that helped make your decision?
Coach Palmer reached out to me at the beginning of indoor season and I was invited to Alabama's Junior Day at the end of March. I was very impressed on the visit and was also able to meet the Director of Track and Field Dan Waters too. Coach Palmer has watched my races in the past and stayed in contact with me all throughout the spring season even when I was unfortunately injured.
What other schools did you look at?
I went on an official visit to Ole Miss and also talked to coaches at Duke, Wake Forest, NC State, and Iowa.
What's your favorite thing about Alabama?
The relationship that the athletes have with the coaches and the positive attitude throughout the whole team. I also believe I can be challenged athletically and academically to achieve my goals.
If you've decided, what will you be studying there?
I am planning on studying dentistry so I will do pre-med for my undergraduate degree.
Are you excited to get this out of the way so you can focus on track season?
Yes! I am excited that I got this out of the way so I don't have any pressure or stress during track season. Now I can just focus on running some fast times!
What are your goals for the rest of this season?
For track I would like to run sub 2:10 in the 800 and also get a good time in the mile, maybe somewhere around 5:00 or under. I would also like to PR in the 400m. I will miss running for HVA and Coach Brown but I am excited about my future college experience on the track and in the classroom!
