Student, varsity track star, and role model, Katie Camarena (11) excels in every event she does on the track and off it. Since her freshman year Camarena has been on the varsity cross country, and track and field team here at San Juan Hills.

Inspired by her older brother Chris Camarena, who was previously a varsity runner here at San Juan, Camarena started training and competing with our team her freshman year, and hasn’t stopped getting better since then. With San Juan Hills great coaching staff and their encouragement towards Camarena she has overcome all obstacles that have gotten in her way, and even made it to state finals this year. Camarena is the 8th best runner for the 800m dash in California. And she is 11th best for the 600m dash, and her team is 7th in the state for the 4x800m relay.

Other than her brother, Camarena states that“My team is my biggest inspiration to get better”

More than anyone Camarena tries to encourage and push her close friend, Heather Johnson (9) to do the best she can.

Running is now a huge part of her life and she plans to run for the rest of her high school career, “I hope to run in college and after if i can. I’ll always run even if its just a hobby” states Camarena. Other than just running for the enjoyment, Katies goals this year are to make it to CIF in the 800m dash and to finish it in under two minutes and fifteen seconds.

Even with practice, races, school, friends and family, Katie Camarena takes it to another level by always doing her best and showing her fellow runners down the right path.