Renee Masterson is a unique athlete. Whether by her leadership mentality, her competitive spirit or her conditioning habits, the way Masterson handles herself on and off the playing field has been vital to the success of the Mississippi State women’s cross country and track teams during the course of her career as a Bulldog. 
A redshirt junior from Beech Grove, Ind., Masterson said she was born to run. She picked up the sport in elementary school, then competed in her first half-marathon when she was in only the fifth grade. After being a member of her middle school track team, Masterson earned four letters in cross country and track for her high school and was named to the Indiana All-Star Cross Country and Track teams.
Although she has been around the sport for most of her life, Masterson is not a typical cross country or track athlete. While most of her teammates prefer listening to music or being surrounded by silence when they run, Masterson said she likes doing math problems while competing.
“I really like math and numbers; I’ve got a really scientific mentality,” Masterson said. “It helps me get my mind off of running, and it’s just my preference.”
Another thing that makes Masterson stick out from a large portion of the competition is the intensity she uses when working out. She is widely known for her work ethic and spends countless hours sculpting her skill during practices and free time, said MSU cross country coach Houston Franks.
“Her work ethic is as good as anyone’s,” Franks said. “The example she sets of being tough mentally and physically, being consistent and determined goes a long way at the end of the day.”
While her style and work ethic may be foreign to some people, Masterson is no stranger to success. As a freshman at MSU, Masterson was the top finisher for the Bulldogs at all of State’s cross country meets and was later named to the 2008 Freshman All-SEC team. 
With the great amount of early success came adversity, as Masterson was hobbled multiple times during her first two years at MSU by nagging injuries. However, although the injuries she sustained early in her career at State were unfortunate, they have played a vital role in making Masterson the runner she is today, Franks said.
“Even though she was constantly injury-ridden her first two years, she kept working hard and she kept staying focused,” said Franks. “And finally, the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t an oncoming train, it was the promise land.”
As a redshirted sophomore, the promised land for a healthy Masterson was being selected to the 2010 All-SEC and All-Region teams.
Now a junior and one of the older members on both the cross country and track teams, Masterson said she has developed a role of a leader and a motivator for her teammates.
“I love to encourage people,” Masterson said. “That’s one of the ways I pump myself up. If I have a positive atmosphere, I know I’m going to do really well. I really like having the mentor mentality.”
Along with the talent she brings to competitions, her uniqueness is also well-liked by her teammates, said sophomore Anna Jarman.
“Having (Masterson) as a teammate is definitely a plus,” Jarman said. “She’s very encouraging and always there in workouts. Whether she’s ahead of you or behind you, you always feel like she’s there, very much a team player.”
Masterson and the MSU cross country team have enjoyed success thus far in the 2011 season, and with the SEC and Region tournaments right around the corner, Masterson said the expectations she has for herself and for her team is continued improvement.
“We are looking to finish within the top five teams,” Masterson said. “We are ranked sixth right now, and finishing better than fifth this season would be an improvement from where we finished last year.”
Although she noted she will be going up against stiff competition, Masterson said her personal goal is to come in the top-10, individually.
“The SEC is really stacked this year, and it’s going to be a dogfight through and through,” Masterson said. “But I run for the Bulldogs, so I know I can win that fight.”