In high school sports, stories of unexpected transitions and remarkable achievements often unfold. Audrie Russo, a senior and member of the girls track and field team at Orange Lutheran High School, embodies this narrative of unexpected beginnings and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Audrie's journey into being a distance runner for track and field and cross country, which she is also a member of, was not premeditated. Prior to high school athletics, she had already dedicated almost a decade to ice hockey through the Lady Ducks program in Anaheim. As a freshman and sophomore at OLu, Audrie was a member of the girls lacrosse program. Her first venture into running was with cross country during her junior year as a way to condition for lacrosse.
As Russo puts it, "I ended up really liking running cross country, and so I decided to do track to train for cross country."
Despite her late introduction to the track and field, Audrie quickly found her stride. Specializing in the mile run and the 800 meters, she set her sights on setting personal records. She recently qualified for the 800-meter race at the Orange County Championships, taking place this coming Saturday. In the fall, Russo was one of the seven girls cross-country runners who competed in the CIF Prelims and Finals at Mt. Sac.
"She quietly and effectively gets it done every day, on the track and, most importantly, in the classroom," head track and field coach Kevin Gillian says of Audrie. "She's a self-motivated individual, and that works really well with running and also life."
Despite her success, it has not been without its challenges, specifically when combating the mental aspect of distance running.
"If you're not positive and keeping that attitude, it is really hard to get through workouts," said the 18-year-old. "You have to mentally prepare for that, and keeping a positive attitude is definitely a struggle."
For Audrie, the camaraderie and unity within the team are irreplaceable aspects of her high school experience.
"Competing with friends who you also go to school with is super cool. It grows the bond and the unity of the team."
Beyond the track, Audrie draws parallels between running and life's challenges as she prepares to graduate from high school. Enduring pain and struggle on the track has instilled in her a profound sense of resilience and determination.
"I've gone through so much pain and struggle in running. I've run faster than I ever thought I was capable of. It has taught me I can do more. In other aspects, I can overcome challenges."
Audrie's support system—comprised of her parents and older sister, Callie, a former distance runner herself—has played an instrumental role in her journey. She says, "They've taught me a lot. They are always so supportive."
Reflecting on her initial skepticism towards running, Audrie admits surprise at her newfound appreciation for the sport.
"I did not think running in general could ever be fun," Audrie said. "Once I actually joined, I was kind of blown away with how much I actually ended up liking it."
