Honestly, I feel like my growth has been coming from just being patient.

I think the last few years I was never patient and I like, I was like I mentally wasn't checked into the sport.

Like I wasn't taking it that seriously and I think now I really put my all into it mentally and physically and I

said you know this is going to be the year where I actually put my all into it and give all my

effort that I can because I know my coaches trust and believe that I could become something great

and I actually took the chance and I trusted them and here I am.

Welcome into the Hogpot.

I'm Bob Mattingly and this episode is made possible by our friends at South by Northwest Hospitality.

For Arkansas track star Annalise Batista, the SEC Championship came down to one decision in the final stretch.

At that point I was just like, I gotta go right now or I'm not gonna come at first. So I was like, we got to move.

Moments later, she crossed the finish line first, capturing the SEC title in the 800

meters and delivering the breakthrough moment she'd been working towards.

It was very exciting.

You know, I didn't have that many expectations on what was bound to happen, but, you know, I gave it to God.

But that moment didn't come overnight. Batista says the biggest change in her career came

once she committed mentally to the work.

I really put my all into it, mentally and physically, and I said, you know, this is going to be the year where I actually

put my all into it and give all my effort that I can because I know my coaches trust

and believe that I could become something great.

And when she arrived in Fayetteville, she quickly learned what it takes to compete in one

of the toughest programs in college track.

I think being here, you do have to live up to a certain standard.

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