LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Los Alamitos High School freshman Mio Emi is known for her insane running speed. Emi is one of the few freshmen who made varsity cross country this year, and she is already flourishing in her races.

The following Q&A has been edited and condensed. 

Q: How did you get into running?

A: I think I started because I wanted to beat other kids in the mile. I remember all the details of my first voluntary run: I went outside while it was just becoming dark and ran a single mile. I remember feeling incredible physically but also having a huge sense of accomplishment. I realized I couldn’t stop there and began running further, more often. My mile did improve over time, which motivated me to continue.

Towards the end of eighth grade, the cross country head coach (Coach Celestin) came to Oak (Middle School) and encouraged everybody to join cross country, though I didn’t think much of it until one of my PE teachers told me it would be a great fit and would help me out in basketball. I knew I needed at least two sports to skip high school PE, and in my mind, tennis and basketball were the best options.

It wasn’t until I was practicing serves one day that I felt shoulder pain from a previous injury coming back, and with tennis tryouts two weeks away, I knew I had to switch gears. I turned to a different sport: cross country.

Q: How long have you been running for?

A: I’ve been running since around November of last year. Before cross country, it was never anything intense — maybe a mile or two a day because it made me feel good. After my first 5K and finally hitting that “runner’s high,” I was even more motivated to continue running for the sake of competition and enjoyment.

Q: How has your experience been in cross country?

A: From summer camp to (almost) the end of our season, I feel like the environment has been incredibly positive. From the coaches to the athletes and the booster club volunteers, we are truly one of the strongest teams just based on how well we work with each other. I started summer camp with my freshman buddies and moved up to the junior varsity and varsity training group by late August.

I remember being told in July by our head coach that unfortunately freshmen and sophomores aren’t allowed to compete in junior varsity and have a small chance on varsity. It doesn’t happen often. Then, in early August my coach told me I could be in the running for varsity.   

Q: How does cross country affect your school life?

A: Cross country has given me a huge sense of community throughout the school. With over 150 runners on the team, there are teammates everywhere on campus. I believe that without cross country, I would not feel as at home in LAHS as I do now. I also think that the cross country mindset, knowing when and how hard to push yourself, really applies to other aspects of school as well, especially in schoolwork and studying because it helps you power through without burning out.

In general, I also feel that I have a better sense of well-being. From all the positive teammates and coaches to the exciting and nerve-wracking races to the cheery team gatherings, I truly feel honored to be part of such an incredible team and experience. 

Emi has many plans for the future, one being to continue in cross country. She hopes to continue running through all four years of high school, balancing cross country and with her academic classes. Emi’s goal is to become the varsity captain alongside her current captain.