Cross country: Checking in with Sarah Baxter
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At the beginning of the week, Sarah Baxter vowed she would refrain from eating desserts until after the state cross-country finals.
Sweets have always been a weakness for the freshman from Simi Valley High. Her coach, Roger Evans, said he once saw her eat a chocolate doughnut before a race.
She only lasted a day before breaking that promise to herself. After all, it was Thanksgiving week.
But on Saturday, she demonstrated the depth of her will power and discipline, winning the state Division I championship at Woodward Park in Fresno in 16 minutes 57 seconds, the third-fastest time in any division ever and fastest since 1996, when Julia Stamps of Santa Rosa ran it in 16:43. Baxter also set a freshman record.
It wasn’t easy.
During the last mile, she said her legs felt ‘tense and tired.’
Baxter might have felt the race all over her body, but her accomplishments have definitely not gone to her head.
When asked about her record-breaking performance, she seemed surprised, then said, ‘Oh yeah, I think somebody mentioned that.’
--Melissa Rohlin
