Kennesaw, Ga. - It is very rare that an athlete who lives over 8000 miles from Georgia would hear about a school like Kennesaw State University.

Well, that rare moment happened when New Zealand native Emma Ferguson committed to the Owls this past spring to run both cross country and track for the women's squads.
 
Ferguson heard about Kennesaw State through a scholarship agency, which led her to KSU assistant track and field and cross country head coach Adam Bray.
  
"Basically, I went through the scholarship agency, and Coach Bray reached out to them. He was keeping an eye on some New Zealand runners. I guess I caught his interest and he reached out", Ferguson said.

Ferguson was very attentive while examining the environment and culture of the Kennesaw State cross country and track and field programs. After deciding she liked the environment of the team, the coaching and the abundance of support from her future teammates she made the decision to move overseas to Kennesaw.

  "I saw the environment of the team online and talking to Coach Bray.  His coaching was quite similar to how I've been coached in the past.  I liked the environment and the girls on the team were very supportive of it and I wanted to be a part of it," Ferguson stated.  

She has been running track and cross country for most of her life in New Zealand. Coming to Kennesaw was a change for her as the environment and culture of running track can be a lot different internationally compared to the US.  

"It's very competitive running in New Zealand. You're not friends with your competitors. You're not there to be mates. You're there to race each other," Ferguson said

"But there's more competition over here in the US.  There's a lot more depth in the fields, and a lot more girls to run with an against, and a lot more opportunities", the freshman stated.

Ferguson is ready to take advantage of those opportunities and represent the Owls on the course as she will make her debut in the Black & Gold on Friday in the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis.