On the first Saturday of the school year, students opened their Instagram accounts to see the Emery Athletics account post a video, with the caption reading, “She came, she ran, she conquered. Anna crushed the competition and set a new two mile school record in 11:48.”

Anna Radwanski, a freshman, has already etched her name in school history. Since then, Radwanski competed in multiple races throughout the cross country season, setting another school record in the 5K, running it in an astounding time of 18:59.01. Her performances got her an invitation to the Nike Nationals, where she once again performed incredibly, finishing 24th out of 165 competitors. She also recently placed third in the TAPPS State Cross Country Championships meet.

With all of the recognition she is receiving since arriving on campus, the pressure to live up to expectations sometimes feels daunting. Despite the expectations, Radwanski approaches every practice, bus ride, and warm-up with focus and purpose, knowing each moment contributes to her performance. With what seems to be a typical warmup of  “a mile run, dynamic stretches, and listening to music,” it is extremely beneficial for her to maintain balance and consistency throughout the warm-up and the race. 

Although she does say that consistency is key, her positive mindset is what really sets her apart from her peers. She tries to “not focus

on the race as much and try to enjoy it.” She claims that her relaxed mindset not only helps her in her performances but also through the pressure that she feels while receiving immense recognition. Rather than letting the attention get to her head, she instead says that it is “fun and enjoyable.” As a freshman who did not go to Emery for middle school, Radwanski admits that it is a huge spot to be thrown into, but she has more than risen to the expectations that were set for her.

When her teammates are asked about her, they consistently mention her incredible work ethic and her overall enjoyment of running track and cross country. Senior Ethan Cox described her work ethic as “something I’ve never seen before.” He continues by saying that “her work ethic had continued to influence the rest of the team. People see how much she wants to win and want to replicate that mentality.” 

Radwanski’s arrival at Emery not only redefined what it means to be a standout athlete at Emery but also what it means to be a leader. Her records speak for themselves, but it’s her mentality and ruthless work ethic that set her apart. Radwanski is able to embody the spirit of perseverance and joy in her races, and it is truly remarkable to see.