Wellesley Athlete of the Week is made possible with sponsorship support from Deland, Gibson Insurance. The family-owned and operated business has carried on this Wellesley tradition for over 30 years.
Athlete of the Week: Emma Tuxbury
Sport: Cross country (captain)
When & how you got involved in running: I got involved my freshman year. Although I did some 5k’s in elementary school, I became serious about it during my freshman year, when I was 14, and i first got involved because my older sister was doing it.
What you love most about cross country: I love most that I was able to do it with my siblings, it has made my whole experience in the sport much better and makes it much more fun and competitive.
Pre-race routine: I don’t have any specific rituals but I always eat a rice crispy treat before every race.
Top goal for this season: My top goal is to break 18 and get top 10 at states.
Thoughts about this year’s team: So far, I think the team has really come together more than we have in other years, which is really nice to see.
An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud of being the Hoka athlete of the month.
A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement with this team: When I got stung by a bee on my toe on the same day as my race and I couldn’t run because my foot was too swollen.
Interests outside of running: Traveling and hanging out with my pets, hiking and surfing.
What other sports do you play, if any? Indoor and outdoor track.
Coach John Griffith on Emma Tuxbury: “This season Emma has proved herself to be not only an incredibly hard working and talented athlete but also an exemplary role model and team captain. Every day at practice Emma pushes herself to the limit, and also shows her teammates how to get out of their comfort zones and compete at a high level. This hard work and dedication is what has enabled her to be considered one of the top distance runners in Massachusetts.”
Athlete of the Week: Sami Juma
Sport: Cross country (captain)
When & how you got involved in running: I first started running competitively during my freshman year of high school after my brother, a senior at the time, encouraged me to join the cross country team. As a child, I sometimes ran with my parents on the weekend, but never actually enjoyed the sport until I got to high school.
What you love most about cross country: My favorite part of the sport is how fulfilling it feels after you have a fast race. The training itself can definitely be very physically and mentally challenging, especially since a large portion of the training consists of long, hot runs over the summer. This makes running a fast race incredibly rewarding, since I know it’s a direct output of all the work I put in.
Pre-meet routine: I don’t have a strict pre-meet regime, though I like to listen to music on the bus to calm down my nerves.
Top goal for this season: My biggest goal this season is for our team to win divisionals and place within the top 5 at states.
Thoughts about this year’s team: We have a very deep team this year, and I think we’ll be able to surprise some of the other teams by the time championship season comes around.
An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud of winning the Bay State Invitational Varsity 5k. Leading up to the race, I had been dealing with some nagging injuries and even thought I might be out for the season at one point, so it was a really satisfying win and a big confidence booster.
A funny or inspiring story related to your involvement with this team: An inspiring moment for me was watching one of my former teammates run a sub 4:20 mile. Running under 4:20 has been a goal I’ve been dreaming of since freshman year, so watching him achieve that goal–a goal he had also been chasing for a long time–was incredibly inspiring and motivating.
Interests outside of running: I enjoy playing the piano, reading, and spending time with family and friends outside of running.
What other sports do you take part in, if any? I also run indoor track and outdoor track.
Coach Colin Corkery on Sami Juma: “This past Saturday Sami won the MSTCA Bay State Invitational in the Varsity Section A. He ran a personal best record time of 15:45 to lead the field and his team to a third place finish behind Reading and North Andover. He has been an outstanding captain for the squad this fall and was able to be a vital part of the training the guys did over the summer. He was one of the captains who helped to organize the guys and then lead the runs. His energy and enthusiasm has been motivating for his team of 75 guys!”
(Athletes of the Week are nominated by their coaches.)
Past Athlete of the Week profiles
