When Layla Lammers came to ASMSA in the fall of 2021, one of her first priorities was to find a way to continue her daily running as well as her high school cross country racing career.
Lammers, a senior from Blytheville, has been running since she was a fifth-grader, becoming a “serious runner” in middle school and began competing in cross country during her freshman year. While ASMSA doesn’t host any sports teams of its own, it does have an agreement with Hot Springs World Class High School to allow its students to compete on the Trojans’ teams. ASMSA is near by Hot Springs National Park.
“Luckily, ASMSA is surrounded by a plethora of parks and trails, and there are always people walking around the downtown area making the running environment safe,” Lammers said. “Through (the ASMSA and Hot Springs High athletic) partnership, I was able to continue cross country.”
The surroundings and the partnership have paid dividends for Lammers’ cross country career. On Oct. 25, Lammers placed eighth in the 5A-South Conference meet, setting a personal record of 20 minutes, 58 seconds. She earned a medal and a spot in the state meet, which will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, in Hot Springs.
Lammers said in many sports running is treated as a punishment for athletes who make mistakes, but for her, running provides an opportunity for her to find time for herself. She admits it can be difficult when you first begin running, but you adjust over time if you remain dedicated.
“When you first begin running, it is difficult,” Lammers said. “Your muscles grow tired, your mind doesn’t think you can go any further, your legs want to give away and you can’t seem to catch a breath. However, none of the above is true: running is more about pushing your mentality to understand you can do it rather than actually doing it.
“As you run more often, it becomes easier. For me, running is a chance to clear my mind. I can go out on a nine-mile run and not break a sweat — using the run as time entirely to myself. With the trees as my cheerleaders and my music as my rally, nothing stops me once I begin running.”
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The athletic partnership between ASMSA and Hot Springs High has been beneficial as well. Lammers said Coaches William Milton and Ian Poole have helped train her to become the strong, disciplined, determined runner that she is. They have also been supportive in balancing the academic rigors of ASMSA with training for athletics.
Most of ASMSA’s school days do not end until after 4 p.m., which is later than Hot Springs’ school day. The Hot Springs coaches adjusted their cross country team training for Lammers, however. The team comes to nearby Whittington Park each day about 4:30 p.m. to meet with Lammers for training.
“Since I cannot attend practice at Hot Springs, they bring practice to me. The Hot Springs runners have also been supportive of me, and we have become such a connected team. We run together, we cheer each other on during our races, we push each other during practices, and we celebrate or cry together after meets. The Hot Springs cross country team has made me feel like one of them, and it has been a true blessing to be a part of their team,” Lammers said.
Balancing the demands of cross country and ASMSA’s academics hasn’t always been easy. Lammers has missed classes to leave for meets and stayed up late making up missing assignments. Time marked for studying has been used for running. Lammers has declined to participate in other extracurricular activities because of her time requirement for cross country.
“Despite these setbacks, I’ve kept cross country a priority: It’s my euphoria. It’s my sport. There is a cost to devoting so much time to running, but it is a cost I am happy to pay,” she said.
Thursday’s state meet may be the final one of Lammers’ cross country career, but it’s not the end of her time running.
“Ending my last cross country season is such a bittersweet feeling. I’m putting an end to my greatest love,” Lammers said. “Although my season is ending and I am writing the end to my chapter of cross country, I will continue to run. Even in the cold, blistering winter months or the scorching, heavy summer heat, the trails call me, and I will hit the ground running.”