AWE-INSPIRING ANNA
Cross country and track athlete shares memories and running advice NYLA MARCOTT MANAGING & NEWS EDITOR
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hen the track season abruptly ended due to the coronavirus, freshman Anna Wells found a new path. She formed a small team of fellow runners, discovered new places to run and practiced various workout routines. Nothing stops her from her quest to continually improve her running performance. Wells competes in both cross country and track. At the cross country state championship last fall, Wells ranked fourth for freshman runners and 25th out of all cross country runners. Running has been an important part of Wells’ life and has helped her to make new friends after transferring to new schools four years in a row. “One of the best parts of cross country is that you have instant friends,” Wells said. “Everyone is so supportive of each other and the team camaraderie is so strong. It’s a great way to meet new people.” Wells’ interest in cross country was sparked by her parents’ experience in the sport. Both of her parents ran
on the Western Kentucky University team, and her mother later ran professionally. “Anna has literally grown up, from the womb, around running,” said her mother, Christina Wells. “Even as a baby, Anna loved her rides in the jogging stroller or hanging out with me in the basement as I trained on the treadmill.” Wells began participating in cross country at her elementary school in fourth grade. “I immediately loved it. I had an amazing coach that made sure that we both worked hard and had fun,” Wells said. “Once a week we had game day, and after every practice we got popsicles.” Five years later, Wells is still running. This year, she ran for McLean’s cross country team and planned to participate in track in the spring. One of her most memorable moments was when the cross country team found out they were going to go to the state championship. “Performing well as a team is very exciting and special. This year the McLean girls [varsity team] won our first ever district championship, finished second at regionals, went to state for the first time ever and finished seventh at state,” Wells said. “I am so happy I got to be a part of the incredible season.” Wells encourages anyone interested in cross country to join the team. She believes it offers multiple benefits. “[Cross country is] a great sport to try because anyone can do it—you do not have to be at the top or anything,” Wells said. “You can do it to make friends.” Wells cautions new runners who are interested in getting more involved in the sport not to run too much. “It is easy to get injured when you all of a sudden start running too many miles,” Wells said. “Instead, start with short runs and then build up from there. It is also important to warm up before and cool down and stretch after.” Wells has developed her technique through years of running and the help of her parents and coaches. Running has not always been easy for her. Wells has faced injuries
and the disappointment of not performing as well as she had hoped. “I have a hard time keeping a positive attitude and I talk negatively about myself,” Wells said. “If I do not perform the way I want to, I get upset.” Despite injuries and disappointments, she never quits. “Anna is really determined; she doesn’t give up and she really gives it her all and tries her hardest,” said freshman Thaïs Rolly, one of her teammates. Wells works hard to be competitive and to consistently improve. During the season, she trains six days a week. “Anna has always been one of the most competitive people I’ve known. And like most competitive people, she is never satisfied and always believes she can do more,” Christina Wells said. “As an 11-year-old, she asked for a pull-up bar for Christmas. Her strength is her strength.” Although she was unable to participate in track due to the cancellation of the season, Wells is doing workouts and runs with three of her teammates to prepare for the upcoming cross country season. Wells completes workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and runs all the other days of the week. “I am continuing to train as I would during the track season, which I believe will help me in cross country,” Wells said. “Running with a few of my teammates has really helped. If I didn’t have them to run with, I think I would be much less motivated during this time. It definitely helps me get out the door in the mornings or after [virtual] school to go do my workouts.” Wells plans to continue running and hopes to improve her state ranking every year. She is not afraid to set challenging goals for herself and the team. Wells came into last year’s cross country season with a goal to qualify for state championships, something her team had never accomplished. “Having the courage to state that goal was motivating for a great group of hardworking girls,” Christina Wells said. “They made [the state championship] as a team for the very first time in McLean history.”
Image courtesy of Anna Wells | Page design by Dasha Makarishcheva
JUNE | SPORTS | 25
