Emi grew up on a farm in southeastern Minnesota outside of Goodhue.  Although she was home schooled from second grade through her senior year, Emi ran for Cannon Falls High School and competed on the cross country and varsity squad for five years.  She was a three-time state champion – cross country, 800 meters and 2 mile – and holds school records in the 800, 4 x 800, mile and 2 mile.

During her stellar career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, she qualified for 10 NCAA DII National Championship meets and was named UMD’s Outstanding Female Athlete for 2017-18.  She finished fourth at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships in 2016 and won the 1500 meter race at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships in 2017. She graduated from UMD with two outdoor records and six indoor.

Emi joined Minnesota Distance Elite in July 2018.