By Moses Leos III
Amid a collection of shoes that hold a familiar swoosh logo, it’s one pair that Hays High cross country runner Esmi Fuentes holds dear.
They’re an off-white pair of shoes that are faded, old and worn. Shoes that have seen better days.
But for Fuentes, those shoes hold a particular meaning. They were the first pair she purchased for running in cross country during her freshman year at Hays.
Now a senior, Fuentes’ collection of shoes has grown, with each pair holding a different memory. She hopes her newest pair of shoes can hold several final memories.
“I definitely want to get first at district and finish in the top five at Region,” Fuentes said. “And I want to medal at state.”
Fuentes’ love of running began during her days in middle school. At the time, Fuentes played soccer, while also running in the 200- and 400-meter events in track and field.
But something wasn’t quite right; Fuentes realized sprint events weren’t quite what she wanted to do. It was the long distance running events that piqued her interest.
Ironically, she said runs that were meant to be punishments – and the encouragement of coach Greg McCulley – pushed her into the sport.
“In middle school athletics, we had the mile run as a punishment,” Fuentes said. “But I didn’t take it as a punishment.”
And while she still played soccer in middle school, she eventually began to use the sport as a base for her workouts and training. According to Fuentes, soccer has helped with her speed.
But it was halfway during the cross-country season in middle school that Fuentes knew she had to focus on long distance events.
“After that, I put everything into my running,” Fuentes said.
Since then, Fuentes has worked to improve herself and her running ability, both in cross country and in track and field.
Recent successes have brought Fuentes into the limelight as one of the top contenders to reach the UIL state cross country meet this November.
It’s bolstered by her back-to-back journeys to the UIL girls state cross country championships in 2013 and 2014. Fuentes finished 41st in Class 4A in 2013, and claimed a 36th place finish in Class 6A last year.
For Fuentes, making a third straight trip to state is the main goal that drives her.
But with that goal also brings expectations. In addition, she will also be up against a stout field of competitors. That includes 6A, Region II champion runner Maddie Boreman, who hails from Rouse High.
“It’s definitely harder. More people are watching me now,” Fuentes said. “There’s not pressure, but people expect high things from me. It’s a little harder now, but I think I’ll be okay in trying to get back to state.”
In order to prepare for her final cross country season, Fuentes ventured to Adams State University in Colorado over the summer to train in the high-altitude climate.
Conditions at the camp took some getting used to, according to Fuentes. She said she was often in the back of the pack, as she worked to acclimate to the colder climate and higher altitude.
Fuentes lauded the training, saying it helped motivate and push her to improve her speed and pace.
The training has paid dividends, as Fuentes claimed back-to-back first place finishes at the Austin ISD Invite and the Pflugerville Invite competitions in September.
Along with her individual exploits, Fuentes has also played a role in the Hays’ Girls cross country team’s strong start to the season. The Hays girls cross country team finished 3rd overall at the Pflugerville Invite on Sept. 11.
“I definitely give a big shout-out to the varsity girls. We’re doing really good,” Fuentes said. “They’ve been pushing themselves hard.”
For Fuentes, the ultimate obstacle will be to overcome mental blocks. Surpassing self-doubt is something she plans to combat as she vies for a state podium finish.
“I definitely think I’ve improved since my sophomore year. I can improve myself mentally,” Fuentes said. “I know I can do it because my coach (Hays head cross country coach Traci Hightower) tells me to believe in myself.”
