This is an article in Sporty Seniors, a bi-weekly column celebrating M-A senior athletes’ dedication to their sport.
Senior Laura Maravilla never planned on becoming a runner. Now, as she enters her fourth year on the cross country team, she is stepping into the role of team captain.
Maravilla first found herself drawn to basketball, which she played through middle school and continued as she entered high school.
While Maravilla joined cross country during her freshman year, she wasn’t immediately drawn to it. “I actually joined late. It wasn’t until a little later on, during September, when I knew some of my friends were doing it and I knew my brother had also done it in high school and college. I thought it would maybe be something cool to try out, you know, get more experience in,” Maravilla said.
Maravilla faced challenges adjusting to the workouts’ intensity at first. “I struggled with some of the shorter runs,” she said. “Every day was really challenging, to show up and actually be there.”
After making varsity her sophomore year, Maravilla realized her efforts were paying off, and was inspired to dedicate herself fully to running. “I realized that it was something that I would be good at,” she said. “If I continued it, I could be even better. So from there, I knew I wanted to continue doing it.” Her junior year, she quit basketball to focus more fully on running.
Team connection is one of Maravilla’s favorite aspects of running. Bonding with her team on long runs and road trips is something she particularly enjoys. “During [long] runs we’re not only running, we’re also talking to each other about our days and doing fun things afterwards if we have time,” she said.
One of her favorite moments with the cross country team is the annual Woodbridge Classic meet in Irvine, Calif. Held under stadium lights at night, the meet brings together athletes from across the country. “There’s tons of people and so many things to do there. It’s just honestly the best to connect with teammates—the bus ride over there is so fun,” she said.
As a senior, Maravilla is now one of three cross country varsity team captains. As captain, she wants to make sure every member of the team feels supported and included. “I really try to connect with everyone, especially some of the newer freshman girls, because I know it’s really hard to start something new and meet a lot of people,” Maravilla said. “I try to make people feel comfortable being new on the team.”
When she’s not running, Maravilla volunteers at a local senior community center called Peninsula Volunteers Inc. “I love talking with people in general, especially the older generation,” she said. “I feel like it’s really nice to get to talk with people you don’t usually talk to.”
Looking forward, Maravilla wants to study biology in college, possibly majoring in neuroscience. She is still unsure how running will factor into her time in college. “I’m gonna prioritize academics first,” she said. “I’m not sure yet if running for a team is something I still want to do.”
Whether she continues to run competitively or not, her time on the cross country team will continue to impact her. One of the most important lessons Maravilla has learned from running cross country is how to push through when things get difficult: “You realize all the work you put in, all the hard workouts you’ve done. It really comes back to you when you realize, ‘Oh, I’ve done this really hard workout. I can do this. I can finish this course and I can try really hard.’”
