Meet Marion track & field standout Brenna Stearns
MARION, Ill. — Whether it is on the track or on the basketball floor, one thing is obvious just by watching. Brenna Stearns goes all out.
“I never want to look back and think I did not give my 100-percent, so I always do,” Stearns said.
Stearns, 16, just finished her junior year at Marion High School. She is a track and field standout in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, as well as the 4×100 meter relay team that qualified for this year’s IHSA Class 2A State Track and Field Finals. Stearns also ran on the 4×400 meter relay team that just missed qualifying for state by two seconds.
“I love my teammates and coaches more than anything,” Stearns said. “I especially love the work ethic of my 4×1 and 4×4 relay team of Kaydence Kelly, Isa Greer, Linlee Beck and Lydia Rogowski.. They always push me to do my best and I will forever cherish them for that.”
While Stearns will be pushed by her teammates in her relays, she will be pushing herself in the hurdles. After second place sectional finishes in both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles helped her get to state, her next goal is to make the final race of the season.
“My main goal is to become all state in one of my hurdle races and run at the collegiate level,” she said.
The top nine finishers earn all-state honors. Stearns finished 12th in the 300 meters and 14th in the 100 meters.
With one more year to achieve her goals, Stearns knows she will have to work hard.
“My biggest challenge in track is running the same times over and over and feeling like I am not improving as much as I should be,” she said. “I manage this challenge by staying positive and telling myself consistency is good.”
She also notes that consistency in training is valuable.
“The best advice I was ever given about sports is to keep training through the pain or inconsistencies,” she said. “Because the progress will show eventually, it just takes patience.”
Outside of track, Stearns says she enjoys spending time with friends, running 5Ks, lifting weights and spending time with her family.
During the track season, she says that while there are a lot of individual accomplishments in track, the team aspect is very important.
“Being a member of the track team has taught me valuable life lessons,” she said. “Like discipline, perseverance and goal setting. I often focus on individual improvements in a team setting, teaching me how to push myself to achieve personal goals while also helping the team’s overall success.”
And how does Brenna get ready for a race?
“My pre-meet ritual consists of being nervous, mostly,” she joked. “But ultimately calming my nerves with my hurdle warm-up.”
Nerves, extra training and setbacks aside, Stearns says she wouldn’t trade any of it away.
“Being a committed student athlete is one of the hardest things to do,” she said. “But I cherish every moment of it.”
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