For many athletes, senior year is about looking back, but for Eliana Wittmann, it is all about finishing strong. Heading into her final season with Westside, she is focused on making every race, every practice, and every mile count.
That determination fuels both her personal and team goals. Individually, she is aiming for growth, wanting to improve on last year’s performances. But just as important is the success of the team around her.
“I’m definitely trying to finish strong for my last season at Westside. My personal goal is to be better than I was last year, and my team goal is to make sure everyone is pushing themselves to be the best runner they can be,” said Wittmann.
As a senior leader, Wittmann understands that success is not just about time on the clock. It is about mindset. She works to create an environment where her teammates feel supported and confident.
“I am leading the team by making sure everyone has a positive mindset, as well as making sure everyone has the support they need to be able to run well,” said Wittmann.
Distance running is as much mental as it is physical, and Wittmann has developed her own strategy to push through the toughest moments.
“I tell myself ‘one more mile,’ or ‘one more lap,’ to get through it when it’s difficult,” said Wittmann.
That same mentality carries over as she transitions from cross country to track. While the sports share similarities, she notes a key difference in training focus.
“It’s not too big of a difference between track and cross country, but during winter training, we focus more on speed work rather than longer endurance,” said Wittmann.
As her final season unfolds, Wittmann already knows running will remain a part of her life, even if it looks a little different.
“I am not running in college, but I will definitely continue to run casually, either on my own or in a club,” said Wittmann.
With each race, Wittmann is embracing her final chapter at Westside the only way she knows how, one more mile, one more lap, and one last fast finish.
