LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - By Michael Palmer - UNLV Athletics Communications Assistant

Senior Rebecca Hobby has adjusted well to the NCAA Division 1 level after transferring to UNLV as a junior a year ago.

The shift from junior college to UNLV has helped and pushed Hobby to train harder, after she initially went to Modesto Junior College to improve her value.

"Coming here, it was a breath of fresh air to have training partners to actually run with me and that I can actually be pushed by them and vice versa," said Hobby.

Her transition from Hughson, Calif., to Las Vegas is quite different from others. Hobby grew up on a farm, and that's where she got her work ethic. When she wasn't at practice, she'd be at home working on the ranch.

"It's really fun to push my limits as far as working on the farm, and now that I've moved here, I can put the efforts that I normally put on the farm into my training."

The factors that really stood out to Hobby about coming to UNLV were the coaching staff and the smaller team aspect. During her first year last season, Hobby was able to work with her teammates and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Last year, six new runners joined the Rebels and now that everyone's comfortable with each other, Hobby feels that they're better as far as relating to each other and knowing each other's running styles. She said the team is able to build off that knowledge thanks to head coach Jebreh Harris.

"It's really good that you can get close to your teammates and form a sisterhood and have those relationships for the rest of your life. A year of training with Coach Harris, we're all so much stronger here than where we were last year. It's a completely different team and he's really dynamic to work with."

Hobby has finished in the top ten in all three races this season. At the UNLV Invitational (5K) on Oct. 3, she ran a personal-best time of 18:15.0 and finished sixth. She was also eighth at the Aztec Invitational (5K) and 10th at the Twilight Classic (4K).

She feels that cross country tests her determination and how badly she wants to win. She sees that everyone has a different level of tiredness and fatigue but for her, it's all about who can push harder.

"Unlike a lot of the other sports, if you give every single ounce of energy you have for that day, that's all you can ask."

Hobby is shooting for a top-five finish in the Mountain West Conference Championships later this month. The Rebels will compete this weekend at Santa Clara's Bronco Invitational (6K) Saturday at a course that Hobby is quite familiar with after previously running it when she attended Modesto JC.