Angelica DeStefano, junior, girls cross-country
“Angelica DeStefano is a junior running her third campaign for the UHS Lady Farmer cross- country team and is enjoying her best season ever. She has improved her time by over a minute on the 3.2-mile Warinanco course, and set a UHS school record on the Oak Ridge Park Course in Clark, running in over 90-degree heat Angelica’s consistency and improvement has been remarkable.She’s a tough competitor. Angela enjoys working out and all forms of physical fitness.”
— Union cross-country, coach Don Erdman
Coach Erdman mentioned your times at Warinanco and Oak Ridge. Anything you can point to in particular for the improvement?
Tackling the grass was a huge factor. I’ve always despised running in grass, however, I had to learn to love it. By doing so, Coach Erdman would provide us workouts that involved running in grass and uneven terrain. Having a strong mindset was also beneficial to improving my time at Oak Ridge. You never want to walk into a meet with negativity. I also pushed myself during practice and believed in my inner self. It paid off. Hard work never goes unnoticed.
Do you prefer running in warmer or colder temperatures?
I personally prefer running in colder temperatures rather than running in warm temperatures. It genuinely helps improve my performance. A factor that led to my time to drop drastically at Oak Ridge was due to the cooler temperature. My team can agree that it’s strictly more comfortable running in the cold than it is in the hot.
Have you set any personal goals for the season?
Yes, before the season began, I had set several goals that would allow me to have a successful season. These goals included: work to my fullest at practice, maintain a positive mindset — super important! — and lower my time at each and every Warinanco meet.
Do you participate in any other sports/activities, other than cross-country, competitively or recreationally?
Other than cross-country, I do not participate in any other extra curricular activities. I decided to take a break from dance because I wanted to fully focus on my academics and cross country.
What do you do to relax outside of school and sports?
Outside of school I love to hang out with my friends and go to the gym. All of my stress is relieved when I’m doing either/or and I am generally at my happiest.
Other than running, what do you enjoy most about school?
I enjoy going to my two favorite classes: psychology and allied health. Psychology peaks my interest on the study of the human mind and behavior. Meanwhile, allied health is a glimpse into what I would like to study and become in the future.
What’s your favorite time of the year?
My favorite time of the year happens to be the fall. I love the idea of a fresh start. It’s a time to reflect and embrace change. Everything about this time of the year is amazing. The color of the leaves are different colors. The weather is tolerable. Not to mention, cross-country takes place and I just simply enjoy every bit of the season.