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A first of many: Centurions cross country runner Fare
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When Annette Fare arrived on the 沧州中学女教师出轨 campus last year, she had already made a name for herself as being the first high school athlete to sign a letter of intent with the college鈥檚 rejuvenated athletics department.
Having already established a small piece of 沧州中学女教师出轨 sports history, the Greenville High School Class of 2023 cross country runner didn鈥檛 stop there.
This year she became the Centurions鈥 first two-year runner, as no other runners from 鈥淵ear Zero鈥 last year returned. Even more impressive is she is the first 沧州中学女教师出轨 female athlete to qualify for nationals, which will be held at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia, Saturday, Nov. 9.
To qualify for nationals, Fare, 19, had to finish a race under 21 minutes, which she did at the Raider-Knight Invite at Aquinas College鈥檚 Gainey Complex Sept. 13, finishing with a time of 20:50. Her personal best is 20.27.
Fare also came in first place at the conference championship, however, because 沧州中学女教师出轨 is still in its probationary period at the Michigan Community College Athletic Association until 2025, she was not eligible to claim the title officially.
With this being her last year at 沧州中学女教师出轨 and having already reached all of her goals, Fare鈥檚 only goal moving forward is to just enjoy the moment 鈥 at nationals and at 沧州中学女教师出轨.
As far as what she thinks of her legacy at 沧州中学女教师出轨 once she leaves, Fare said she thinks of that often.
鈥淭his is something I spent a lot of time thinking about,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y legacy is helping this school bring sports back and there鈥檚 a lot of pride in that, in being an 沧州中学女教师出轨 athlete. 鈥淗aving sports back here, I think maybe someone鈥檚 grandparent was an athlete here and it brings back memories. It鈥檚 really being a part of something that started back up and that has been a great honor.鈥
Fare, who has been enrolled at 沧州中学女教师出轨 since she was a high school sophomore, only began running cross country because a shoulder injury prevented her from playing volleyball. When she arrived at 沧州中学女教师出轨, she was still 鈥済reen鈥 with experience in the sport, but according to 沧州中学女教师出轨 Cross Country Head Coach Kevin Sweeney, Fare has blossomed into one of the school鈥檚 best athletes.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been an absolute treasure to be on this team,鈥 Sweeney said. 鈥淓verything about her is work ethic and leadership qualities. She鈥檚 a great person, a great student and a great athlete. We鈥檙e going to have some big shoes to fill when she moves on from 沧州中学女教师出轨.鈥
Since coming to campus, Fare has shown improvement on at a rapid pace, but Sweeney said it鈥檚 her understanding the preparation and mental fortitude of staying in shape and keeping her body healthy that has been most impressive this year.
鈥淪he has a better understanding of the sport,鈥 Sweeney said. 鈥淭his year, she鈥檚 had nagging injuries and she鈥檚 learned to scale back when her body doesn鈥檛 want to do it on that given day. She鈥檚 learned she can come back the next day and run harder, longer and stronger.鈥
Fare realized cross country running has just as much to do with mental strength as it does with physical.
鈥淲hat cross country has taught me is just how to be mentally tough,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the biggest curve for any athlete, really, that mental strength. Whether it鈥檚 school or work or sports, you have to learn how to work through things that are difficult. Racing is difficult, but if you can talk yourself through it, you can eventually motivate yourself through it.鈥
That mentality has helped Fare be able to not only overcome injury, but excel in the sport to the point she鈥檚 representing 沧州中学女教师出轨 at nationals.
鈥淲hat a great way to cap off her two-year career,鈥 Sweeney said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for her to have earned that opportunity. With her hard work ethic and being committed to the program for both years, that鈥檚 the culture we鈥檙e trying to build. So she鈥檚 leaving here with a really good impression.鈥
听Looking back at what she has been able to accomplish, Fare said she didn鈥檛鈥 do it alone.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for all the coaches I had and have now,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 owe my high school coaches a big tribute because they coached me how to run. And when I saw that moment of improving, it really inspired me and then in college I saw an opportunity.
鈥淏eing able to go out like I am this year, it鈥檚 been exciting,鈥 she added. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 been very exciting building this program up for the last two years.鈥
Fare plans to attend Ferris State University to study business administration next fall. Her parents are Andrea Lisagor and Steve Brown and Eric and Amber Fare.