D6 Athlete of the Week: Aera Reyes, Greeley Central High School

"Aera Reyes is a dream athlete to coach. She took it upon herself to work extremely hard over the summer, and her tenacity is paying off! She has consistently placed amongst the top females in every race she has run this year, with her best finish being 5th place at the Roosevelt Invitational. Her times just keep getting better and better, with a Personal Best of 20 minutes and 28 seconds. She is, without questions, the most talented female distance runner I have had the pleasure to coach, and as a sophomore, she is just getting started! Not only is she a gifted athlete, but she is a stellar student as well. She currently has straight A's and a 4.143 cumulative GPA. The Wildcat Cross Country program is proud to call Aera one of their own!" - Barbara Johnson, Cross Country Coach

Student Name

Aera Reyes

School

Greeley Central High School

Grade Level

Sophomore

Sports

• Cross Country
• Track & Field

Positions

• Distance

Stats

• 20:28 5K
• 5:34 1600m

"I am most proud of getting MVP for cross country my freshman year."

What's one goal you're currently working towards in your sport?

"This season, I want to get below 20 minutes for my 5k, and make it to State." 

Describe your worst sports performance. What did you learn from this experience? 

"One of my worst sports performances was a track meet that I had at the end of my freshmen year. I had a lot of events that day, and when I didn't do as well as I want to one one, I got in my head and didn't do well on my other events. This taught me that running is truly mental. You have to believe in yourself and keep a positive mindset." 

Who are your role models in your sport or life, and how have they influenced you? 

"My role models are Faith Kipyegon, who is attempting to be the first woman to achieve a sub 4 minute mile, and my mom because she has faced a lot of pain and injury when it comes to running. They have taught me to pursue my goals despite setbacks."

How do you balance sports with other responsibilities like school or work?

"Balancing sports and school has not always been easy for me, but I have found that really utilizing your time in an effective way is important. You have to allow yourself to take breaks and slow down because if you don't, it is really easy to burn out. Having a structured schedule is also really important. Set aside specific times for work and a time that you should be in bed."

What are your career or college plans after you graduate high school? 

"After high school, I hope to get recruited to run at college. I want to go to the University of New Mexico and study social sciences."  

What advice do you have for younger athletes who want to join your sport?

"My biggest advice to younger athletes who are joining Cross Country is that you are your own biggest competition and that it's okay to make mistakes. When you race, you are racing against yourself and your time, and it doesn't always have to be your best race."

Do you have any funny pre-game rituals or superstitions that you stick to?

"Glitter makes everything better! My team and I always put ribbons in our hair and deck ourselves out in glitter."

If you were to participate in a talent show unrelated to your sport, what would your act be?

"If I were to participate in a talent show, my act would be baking."