Although only a freshman, Pine Crest's Tsion Yared has accolades beyond her years. Yared started running in fourth grade, placing sixth in the 2A state cross country meet as a sixth grader in 2013 and winning it as a seventh grader in 2014. With PRs of 17:42.40 for XC, 10:49.60 for the 3200m, and 5:06.56, she could rival most seniors in the state.
However, in 2015, Yared was faced with the downside of her early skill: injuries. Before the regional meet, Yared found out she had the beginnings of a stress reaction, sidelining her for the rest of the cross country season and keeping her out of most of the track season.
Pine Crest Coach Paul Baur says if anything, her ability to persist through injury has made Tsion a better runner. The 2016, post-injury Tsion was the 2A state runner-up, running a PR and placing fourth at the Nike Southeast Regional meet to qualify for her first-ever NXN, where she placed 39th in the nation.
"It meant everything to me to see her persevere and grow as an athlete and person," Baur said. "She has learned a lot and through the injury she has become a much more focused athlete in regards to doing every little thing to stay healthy and not take anything for granted."
NXN wasn't really on Yared's radar entering this season, as Baur's main focus was keeping her injury-free and training. Initial losses to 2A runners such as Natalie Varela and Amanda Beach, whom Yared would later beat at states, didn't worry them. The plan was to peak, and she did.
"Goals were always to stay healthy and not try to rush training or panic," Baur said. "She progressed perfectly and closed the gap on many of her competitors throughout the season, peaking when it mattered the most at Nike Southeast Regionals."
For Yared, the trip to NXN was just an extra bonus.
"I wasn't expecting to get here, so just getting here was so amazing," Yared said. "...I'm really happy, [NXN] is such a good experience and the race was just kind of icing on the cake."
Now, after NXN, Yared will take a few weeks off before shifting focus to track. With three and a half years of high school left, Yared has ample time to continue to her distance dominance. "I never saw myself coming here, so now it's good to know what I'm really capable of doing," she said. "And I guess it just motivates me to keep on pushing throughout the rest of the high school season."
And, says Baur, regardless of what happens in the following seasons, he knows Yared will always be an asset to the Pine Crest team.
"Tsion is extremely humble, loves to smile, encourage others and bring out the best in her teammates," Baur said. "She also works extremely hard and enjoys it. Not many athletes like the process, but Tsion is one that is thankful for being able to train and use the gifts that God has blessed her with."
"Tsion is team focused and regardless if she could run or not, she was always there to encourage her teammates and looked forward to the time she could join them."
More Coverage
- 2016 NXN Meet Page (Complete Coverage/Results)
- 2016 NXN Videos/Interviews
- 2016 NXN Featured Photo Album By Alan Versaw
- 2016 NXN Featured Photo Album By Travis Miller
