Running is hard. It is dreaded by most because of the physical stress it puts on a runner’s body, and the mental toughness it takes to complete a race of any kind. But for sophomore Samantha (Sammy) Wanke, it’s an escape from life’s hardships and a way to get involved. Even though there are other successful runners on the team that are well-known throughout the Antioch community, Wanke’s love and dedication for cross country shows how strong of an athlete she really is.

“Sixth grade was when I first knew I liked [cross country],” Wanke said. “Originally, I wanted to do cross country just to stay in shape for track, but once I started practicing I fell in love with distance running.”

Cross country is a sport in which teams or individuals run a race over natural terrain on open-air courses. In other words, it’s the outdoor version of long-distance track events. The Antioch cross country teams compete in a series of meets and invites throughout the fall season. Last year, Wanke ran her best three-mile race as a freshman when the team travelled to Aurora, Ill., for an invite. Now, in her sophomore season, Wanke hopes to keep improving her times as the years go by because continuing her running career in college is something she would love to do.

In Wanke’s eyes, being on the cross country team the past two years has helped her make so many friends. During tough races it’s hard to stay motivated, but running with such supportive teammates makes the rough ones that much easier.

“For high school, running on the cross country team helped me be more a part of the school and school events as a freshman,” Wanke said. “Everyone I run with is extremely supportive so it’s easy to make friends. My teammates and coaches help keep me motivated because they both encourage me to be better.”

Thanks to the cross country team, making friends for Wanke is easy. Yet, she hasn’t forgotten about the friends that have been there through it all. Varsity tennis player Sierra Ward is one of Wanke’s best friends. They went to middle school together and have been attached at the hip ever since.

“Sammy is a very hard worker,” Ward said. “She is so dedicated to what she does and pushes me to be the same way. She loves running a lot and works really hard to succeed in it.”

Even though Wanke works hard and receives lots of support from her coaches, friends and teammates, not everything in her life is positive. There was a time when Wanke wanted to cut her running career short.

“I just felt like I didn’t fit in anymore and I wasn’t capable of being a successful runner,” Wanke said.

Cross country isn’t necessarily a walk in the park. It’s more like a run as fast as you can in the park. So, for the sophomore, doubting the ability to be a successful cross country runner was not uncommon. After receiving tons of support from friends and a variety of coaches, Wanke regained her confidence and found her passion for running again.

Balancing school and sports is no easy task, but Wanke manages to keep her grades up as well as preparing for races as best as possible. Wanke explains that planning ahead and completing homework before a big race is a big help so she has time to relax and prepare for upcoming meets. Putting school aside, practice plays an extensive role in the success of a runner. On average, Wanke runs about eight hours a week, which translates to 35 to 40 miles.

Being a part of a high school sport helps teach commitment and dedication to many student athletes like Wanke. No matter how well-known or talented an athlete is, being on a team of any kind will provide an athlete with many lessons learned and memories that will last a lifetime.