FROM LONGMONT, COLORADO.
AVA IS A JUNIOR, OUR TEAM SWEETHEART,
AND QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST WHOLESOME HUMAN
TO EVER LACE UP SPIKES.
TO EVER LACE UP SPIKES.
SHE WALKED ONTO THE TEAM LAST YEAR WITH LITTLE CROSS COUNTRY EXPERIENCE AND STILL ENDED UP AS ONE OF OUR TOP SCORERS.
LIKE, WHAT?!
FROM DAY ONE, SHE SURPRISED ALL OF US (INCLUDING HERSELF) WITH HER NATURAL TALENT, WORK ETHIC,
AND THAT GLOWING, NEVER-ENDING SMILE.
SHE DIDN’T GROW UP AROUND XC, BUT SHE JOINED THE TEAM WITH AN OPEN HEART AND IMMEDIATELY SHOWED SHE BELONGED.
NO PROVING NECESSARY.
WHETHER IT'S THE HIGH-ALTITUDE GENETICS
FROM HER COLORADO ROOTS
OR JUST PURE DETERMINATION,
AVA IS BUILT TO RUN FAR AND FAST.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, SHE’S BUILT TO LOVE IT.AVA IS BUILT TO RUN FAR AND FAST.
HER JOY FOR THE SPORT IS CONTAGIOUS.
WHEN IS AVA NOT SMILING? MAYBE... MAYBE...
DURING THE FINAL 200 METERS OF A RACE.
BUT EVEN THEN, SHE’S PROBABLY STILL SMILING ON THE INSIDE.
AVA IS COMPETITIVE, DRIVEN, AND SETS BIG GOALS FOR HERSELF. BUT WE ARE HERE TO REMIND HER SHE’S
ALREADY PROVEN MORE THAN ENOUGH.
WE ADORE HER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. SHE BRINGS LIGHT, KINDNESS, AND AESTHETIC VIBES EVERYWHERE SHE GOES.
AS AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND FILM, MEDIA & TV STUDIES MINOR, SHE’S OUR PHOTOGENIC QUEEN, THE GIRL WHO MAKES RACE PHOTOS LOOK LIKE MAGAZINE COVERS.
OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE, SHE’S IN THETA. SHE’S BUBBLY, SHE’S REAL,
SHE’S EFFORTLESSLY COOL,
AND SHE MAKES EVERY DAY ON THIS TEAM BETTER.
AVA’S THE KIND OF PERSON
YOU JUST WANT TO PROTECT AT ALL COSTS,
NOT BECAUSE SHE NEEDS IT, BUT BECAUSE YOU JUST WANT TO PROTECT AT ALL COSTS,
SHE’S JUST THAT PRECIOUS TO ALL OF US.