Junior Maya Ledesma runs on the varsity cross country team.

Maya Ledesma is a junior on the varsity girls cross country team. On Sept. 5, she won the Minooka Conditioner with relay partner Taya Gummerson.  She was voted Athlete of the Week for the week of Aug. 27 – Sept. 2. This interview with Nook News has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: How long have you been running?

A: Since 5th grade.

Q: How do you rate your performance on the last meets?

A: I feel as I’ve been doing really well and that I’m taking it to another level from my last two years.

Q: What do you think as you run?

A: I have so many thoughts as I run. Sometimes I think as if I “need to go” and times where I “ really want to stop,” but it’s usually that I want to keep going and think about what I need to work on and what my coaches said to me.

Q: What’s your favorite course you run on? 

A: Naperville North course because it’s a cool experience getting run at night and it’s a fast course because it’s flatter and it’s just fun.

Q: What do you do before and after your race? 

A: I zone out and stretches and do the team warm-ups. After a race I cool off, and hang out with the team and cheer teammates on.

Q: Do you have a rival or someone that pushes you?

A: I use anyone in the race next to me to motivate me and my teammates to make me want to do better.

Q: How do you feel about your teammates and everyone as a team? 

A: I love my team and everyone has been working really hard so they can succeed. I’m proud of all my teammates when they race.

Q: Do you have a favorite running shoe brand? 

A: I used to like Brooks, but now I wear On Clouds and I love them.