“Just wear a ponytail and you’ll run faster,” is the advice Coach Aaron gave junior Elizabeth Wanner.
It must have worked, because Wanner broke the 400 meter junior record for indoor track.
“I was excited and my coaches and teammates were proud,” said Wanner.
Track is a very involved sport that requires a lot of dedication and time commitment.
There is the popular saying for track that goes “Our sport is your sport’s punishment,” which could not be more accurate.
Most people would never voluntarily run for fun.
This does not go for Wanner, though. She embraces the tough workouts that come with the sport, and she is always working toward her goals.
“I want to make it to states this year,” she said.
To prepare for her meets, Wanner said her days of training consist of, “Running a few miles and lifting weights.”
“Most days we workout on the track which is speed,” said Wanner.
The majority of athletes enjoy practicing by themselves as long as they have their headphones and a good playlist. Wanner, however, shared something surprisingly different than that, but also with valid reasoning.
“I don’t listen to music when I run because I am scared of getting kidnapped.”
Wanner has big plans for her future, looking into going D1.
“I want to go to college to run,” she said. “I would like to go to Bucknell or Susquehanna.”
In order to catch a college’s eyes (which Wanner already has, and has gotten the opportunity to speak to many college recruiters from around the area), an athlete has to break out of their shell and attend big meets. Not only this, but also get personal records and good times, meet after meet.
Track meets are not always just stress for Wanner. Her and her teammates, who some are her very close friends, make lots of memories together all the time.
“When we were going to an indoor meet Joey got his arm stuck in the cupholder of the door,” said Wanner. “His whole drink spilled inside of the door and when he tried to get it his arm got stuck.”
Wanner made it clear that her friends like seniors Weston Fry, Laila Shreck and Sean Frey, as well as freshman Molly Jackson, make her gruelling practices and stressful meets a lot easier.
But she also wanted to thank her mom for being her overall biggest supporter.
“My mommy, [I want to] tell her thank you for always being there for me and encouraging me when it gets hard.”
Featured photo (at top): Junior Elizabeth Wanner mentally prepares for her 400 meter dash. She beat the indoor school record in this event as well as the freshman 400 meter dash record. Photo provided by Elizabeth Wanner.
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