(This story first published on centerfieldmarist.com)
As a junior on the Marist cross country and track & field team, I have learned that my journey as a Division I athlete has been one of both hardship and growth, ultimately leading to becoming a better version of myself.
Seeing the strides this program has made since my freshman year and the future continuing to look promising is all I could have wanted when I first became a Red Fox. It is and always has been about the team; being better for each other.
I view myself as someone who leads by example, wanting to create a better path and program for the upcoming classes than when I first arrived. Our team has a joint understanding of hard work, while also having fun and understanding the limited amount of time we have to enjoy this unique opportunity granted to us.
This unity and motivation within our team has been instilled in me from day one through the captains of my freshman year being the rock all of us needed. They embraced my freshman class, all 10 of us at the time, and made us feel immediately welcomed. We worked hard for each other, despite the setbacks we faced.
(From left to right) Kaitlyn Hastings, Tori Mariano, Sierra Fisher, Parker O'Brien and Samantha Keller pose for a photo at the 2023 NCAA Northeast Regionals. (Provided by Sierra Fisher)
(From left to right) (From left to right) Kayla Hawkins, Sierra FIsher, Adele Alexander and Parker O'Brien pose for a photo at the 2024 4×1500 Colonial Relays. (Provided by Sierra Fisher)
On the very first day of my freshman year at my first practice, I tripped and sprained my ankle, keeping me out for the first month of my freshman cross-country season. It is safe to say I was devastated and felt helpless at a time when everything was so new to me.
Being from Vermont, I am four hours away from home, so my entire support system was unavailable for me when I needed it most. I was not alone in my agony though, as several other teammates of mine were also cheering on the sidelines.
Each of us was forced to wait to finally get back on the starting line. This feeling of helplessness created an instant shift in my mentality, as I knew I could not take the future opportunities I would be given for granted.
I was able to salvage the season and thanks to physical therapy, race my way to a top seven spot and compete at the NCAA Division I Northeast Regional race. I carried this ambition with me through the rest of my freshman track season, qualifying and competing in both the indoor and outdoor track ECAC championships. I saw improvement but still wanted more.
My expectations going into my sophomore and junior years as a Fox were high, but I still didn't know what I was capable of until I finally let go of the mental setbacks I was facing.
In my sophomore year, I continued to earn personal records in my cross-country races and place as a top Marist runner, competing again at Regionals and seeing positive results in my track times. Everything was going how I had hoped, yet I mentally had never been so weak.
The little voice in your head as an athlete constantly telling you that you are not enough can be exhausting and quite frankly, annoying. The ability to learn and rewire your mindset to tune it out and focus on the task at hand is something I am still working on perfecting.
I knew this was a barrier that I had to overcome if I wanted to see what my true potential was and give myself a chance at being a better athlete. I wanted to trust myself and the process and set an example for my teammates that you can truly do whatever you put your mind to.
I had to step away and take some time to refocus who I was as a runner. I spent the month of June studying abroad in Florence and allowed myself to find my love for running again; doing it for myself and for my team, not the times on the clock.
(From left to right) Sierra Fisher, Grace LaCapra and Paige McCaul explore the Duomo di Milano while studying abroad in June 2024. (Provided by Sierra Fisher)
In Florence, I immersed myself in a culture that was slow-paced and focused on being present in the moment. I went on adventures and prioritized what was best for my mental health in the limited time I had to study abroad. Running was still a priority, but viewed as an added perk to my life; it was my outlet to explore the area and visit the little villages just outside of the city center that I may have never gone to otherwise.
I credit my junior season success to my ability to let go and embrace the joy that my teammates bring me. I noticed the shift in my perspective paying off in both my place on the team and my times on any course. I ran times that I didn't think I was capable of, and placed at meets that I never saw myself being able to make an impact at. I worked hard to reach my goals, while also simply having fun.
As an upperclassman, part of my responsibility is to create an environment where all athletes feel welcomed and are not afraid to express their feelings. I love this team, I want to see each person succeed. I aimed to lead this season as both a runner and teammate, and I hope I set a good example.
I have grown through these two and a half years to be the athlete my high school self would look up to. I have grown to be a runner who appreciates the little moments in the sport that, for me, can be more impactful than the big moments we work towards. I have gained lifelong friendships, been on countless travel adventures for races that I will remember for years, and continued to stay true to who I am as a person and value this opportunity I was given.
Sierra Fisher (center) runs during the Indoor ECAC 1k race last year. (Provided by Sierra Fisher)
Sierra Fisher at the 2024 Fall Foliage meet in Vermont. (Provided by Sierra Fisher)
All the runners that have been through this program before I got here have paved the way for all the athletes, including myself, to get the opportunities we have today. The track program has grown to over 100 athletes, and the coaching staff continues to expand. In the near future, we will have our own track facility to train and continue to develop into the athletes we want to become, with the proper resources being available to us. The support from the community for our program has been crucial to ensuring we are able to succeed.
Looking back on my accomplishments and the time that I have left with this program, I cannot help but reflect on my parents being the catalysts in getting me to where I am today. I started out as a kid from Vermont who loved to snowboard and run, eventually competing in both and ultimately deciding to pursue running at the collegiate level.
All the weekends, the late-night practices, and seemingly endless traveling, have made it possible for me to be the athlete I am today: driven, hard-working, and resilient.
