Wingspan: What is your favorite part about running?

Saxena: “My favorite part about running is the feeling of accomplishment when I succeed, like when I get a PR (personal record).”

Wingspan: What is your prerace snack?

Saxena: “A banana and a granola bar.”

Wingspan: Who first introduced you to running?

Saxena: “Coach Bailey in 7th grade at Vandeventer Middle School.”

Wingspan: Do you prefer to run with music yes or no and if so what song(s)?

Saxena: “I usually run without music to better prepare for race day, but I do listen to music before running.”

Wingspan: What are your future plans for running?

Saxena: “I want to continue to pursue running in the future, but I don’t know if I want to run in college yet.”

Wingspan: What are your personal goals?

Saxena: “My personal goals are closely related to the team’s goals. I want my 5k time to be as fast as possible in order for us to qualify for regionals and state.”

Wingspan: What do you tell yourself when you feel like giving up?

Saxena: “I tell myself that I have teammates who depend on me and remind myself of my goals.”

Wingspan: Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Saxena: “Last year’s seniors (Class of 2020) are my biggest inspiration because of how much they pushed me as an underclassman and helped create a great team atmosphere that I aim to carry on.”