Hello! My name is Evie Eastman and I’m a senior at Wilson High School. I run cross country and track. I love running and competing. My running journey wasn’t always long distance. In middle school I started out doing sprints, and I just wasn’t improving or placing well in my heats. That’s when a friend suggested long distance 8th grade year. I made the switch and ran the 800 and mile. I loved running the 800. 

Freshman year I practiced with the long distance team until school shut down due to Covid. I would run occasionally but I mainly focused on soccer during the lock down. When track started up again sophomore year I switched to mid distance and ran just the 400. I ended up being one of the faster mid distance runners, but my time still wasn’t getting me anywhere post season. Junior year I started competing during the indoor season mainly running the 400. Towards the end of indoor I ran the 800 and remembered how much I loved running the 800. 

When outdoor track started junior year I mainly ran the 400. Halfway through the season my coach said I want to see you run an 800, so they put me in a 4×8. My time was decent but for the rest of the season I would run in a 4×8 every so often. By the end of the track season I shaved 20 seconds off my time, and ran in the 4×8 A team. I helped my relay team place first at counties, 3rd at districts, and 11th at states. 

This year I decided to not play soccer and run cross country to help me stay in shape and help me get ready for track. I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to finish the race. I was able to shave off over a min, and I placed 16th at counties and 67th out of 208 runners. I have been competing in indoor as well this year mainly running the 800 and 1600. 

I am excited for this spring season, I am looking forward to running the 800 and 1600. Next year I will be attending Suny Delhi, and running cross county and track. I will also be going for their culinary program and studying the baking and pastry bachelor program. 

I would like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. I would also like  to thank my coaches Tyler Rutt and Josh Falk for helping me get to where I am today, and find my love for running. 

-Evie