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Stilwell High School Sydney Lawrence runs during the Class 4A state track meet on May 5 in Ardmore, Okla. Lawrence won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. COURTESY PHOTO
 




BY WILL CHAVEZ
Senior Reporter 

STILWELL, Okla. – Stilwell High School freshman Sydney Lawrence recently brought home two gold medals from the Class 4A state track meet in Ardmore by winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. 

The 15-year-old Cherokee Nation citizen has been running track since grade school, but never attempted distance running until two years ago.

“A couple summers ago I started doing it. I really liked it a whole lot more than all the sprinting because it was more relaxing and it wasn’t so intense,” Lawrence said. 

The 1,600-meter (1 mile) and 3,200-meter (2 miles) races are run on a quarter mile track, which doesn’t provide much room for runners to jockey for position. 

“In every race, my coach tells me to get out on your start and don’t get caught up in the pack. When that happens, you can’t run your own pace and you have to work your way up, and then basically you’re too tired to keep your pace,” Lawrence said. “So, I would just sprint out the first few 100 yards and then get into my stride, and once I was in front I would try to keep my pace.” 

Lawrence ran cross country races for Stilwell this past fall, but admits she didn’t do well. So she sought advice on how to improve her running and running times. The advice worked because she was able to knock nearly two minutes off of her 3,200-meter time, she said. 

She added that she prefers two-mile cross country races to track races because she isn’t fond of running in circles. 

“I didn’t plan on doing it (track), but everyone said ‘you’ve got to do it.’ They said ‘you did cross country so you have to do track,’” she said. “I tried track, and I guess from training and getting better, it was easier. But I still think I like cross country more because of the trail running.”

Lawrence said her sophomore-year goals include earning all state in cross country, even if she falls short of being state champion. In track, she plans to defend her two state titles.

Her training includes running 25 miles a week. She said most days she runs roads, but devotes one day to running on a track. 

“I’m hoping that by getting better for track season, I’m also better for cross country season this coming fall,” she said.

will-chavez@cherokee.org

918-207-3961