Anna Maxwell of San Lorenzo Valley has been in the spotlight since she was a freshman, having a stellar rookie season and qualifying for the Footer Locker National Cross Country Championships.  After a repeat appearance as a sophomore, she struggled her junior season of cross country, becoming ill late in the season and falling in the state championships. But Anna made it clear she was back at the Arcadia Invitational in April, running 10:10.51 in the Invitational 3200 meters for second place (CA#2 /US#5).  At the CCS Finals, she won the 3200 and the 1600, where she ran a PR and California #1 time of 4:42.57.  She went on to compete in both distances at the CIF State Championships, winning the 1600 title using a courageous front-running strategy in nearly 100 degree heat.  From there she extended her season, earning a spot on the USA World Team and competing in The Ukraine, finishing 9^th in the World Youth Championship 1500.  I caught up with Anna as she wound down for a very busy summer season, and started to look toward cross country and her senior year.

Scott Joerger (SJ): You were the state champion at 1600 with a very aggressive race run from the front in very high temperatures. Was that your plan going into that race and did it play out according to plan?

Anna Maxwell (AM): Yes, that was the plan heading in. I had discussed taking it out hard with my coach and pushing on the third lap; this was what I had done at my league and CCS section meet and being that most of my competition comes from my area I had confidence it would work at state too.

SJ: Tell us about your experience in the Ukraine representing the USA at the World Youth Championships. What was it like to wear the Team USA uniform for the first time?

AM: It was a crazy experience and I felt unbelievably lucky and honored to be able to represent my country. I made so many friends on the team and had a blast getting to know them as we experienced the culture of the Ukraine together. I will never forget the experience and will always feel lucky to remember the terror and excitement of racing in that venue.

SJ: Coming off such a successful spring, how does this season shape your goals for your senior year?

AM: I really want my girl’s team to come together and be successful. We had a rough season last year and I hope I can continue off of my track season’s successes and can extend it to team success as well.

SJ: Now that your post-season competition is finally over, can you tell us what your summer training has been like? How do you adjust for the extra-long track season?

AM: Well it has been atypical definitely- I had a few days off between the Ukraine and Nike Elite camp and then a few days prior to some hard training at altitude with my team in Mammoth Lakes; then a week off to get my wisdom teeth out. But, through it all I have kept up decent mileage and am confident I’ll have a strong XC season.

SJ: Tell us about your experience at the Nike Elite Camp - what makes it special?

AM: I got reunited with Alexa [Efraimson] and Blake [Haney] who I got to know pretty well in the Ukraine so that was really fun. Plus I got to meet a lot of other elite runners and spent a crazy few days living and learning in any runners dream location while getting the royal treatment.

SJ: Did you have any background in competitive sports prior to high school? Tell us about how you got involved in cross country and track as a freshman.

AM: Well I played competitive soccer for years and even played varsity soccer as a freshman. I ran track in middle school but didn’t even think about XC till High School, when I decided I needed a sport to look good for college and it was either water polo or XC and I figured I was pretty good at running so I called the coach and met the team over the summer for practice and haven’t stopped since. 

SJ: At what point did you realize that you could be successful at this sport?

AM: Well at first when I realized I would be on varsity vying for the fourth spot I realized had some natural talent because I was on a team with really talented girls. Later that season I began to move up until I was the number one girl. By the end of the XC season I had made it to the Footlocker Championships, which was totally unexpected and showed me what great opportunities were available if I continued to work hard.

SJ: I know Coach Rob Collins has been a big influence on you. Tell us how that relationship has evolved as you've moved more and more to the elite stage.

AM: I owe all my success to his training and wouldn’t be here without him. Coach Collins is passionate about running and racing and he inspires his runners to be their best. Rob has been my supporter since freshman year and believes in me.

SJ: What are your goals for this cross country season, for the team and individually?

AM: As a captain to help the team come together to vie for a state championship and just to help everyone with the general concept of ELE (everyone love everyone).

SJ: You are a two-time Footlocker Nationals qualifier. Have you put any thought to whether you would pursue Footlocker again vs. NXN in the post season?

AM: Yes, I wanted my team to go to NXN but I’m not sure the girls want to; if we don’t go as a team I will need to evaluate which I should pursue as they are both great competitive events.

SJ: I assume you have been talking to colleges. Can you give us any idea what colleges you are considering? What are you main considerations in choosing a college?

AM: I am mostly looking at PAC 12 schools with a few exceptions. I am looking for the combination of a highly academic school and a highly successful distance program with a mind to the fit with the program goals, coaches, community and culture.

SJ: What do you like to do outside of track & cross country?

AM: I love science and the environment and am an avid scholar. I also tutor a friend in math, I am a Link Leader which is a mentor at school, and I share an environmental monitoring project with my partner who took it to the state science fair last year. I love quilting, sewing, knitting, hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, anything outside, swimming and riding horses.

SJ: Thanks for taking the time to talk and best of luck this season!