Moorpark resident and Track and Field runner Sara McDonald has been named ‘Athlete of the Year’ by the Moorpark College Athletic Department.
This honor was given to the 20-year-old kinesiology major at the end of her last season as a Raider. McDonald recently won the Western State Conference title in the 200 and 400-meter dash. She broke her own record in the 400 with a time of 54.73, which helped the Raiders place fourth in the WSC Finals.
McDonald began honing her athletic abilities at Moorpark High School when she tried out for the track team her freshman year and made the varsity team. After an ACL injury and brief stint playing soccer, McDonald decided to focus her energy on the track. Since becoming a Raider she has improved her speed throughout the season.
McDonald said she has a number of rituals she engages in before competing to get into the right mindset.
“I’m really superstitious when it comes to that kind of stuff but a lot of runners are,” McDonald said. “I have to put my shoes on a certain way, do my stretches in like a certain order and do my warm ups a certain way.”
She plans to transfer in the fall of 2014 and has been contacted by the University of New Mexico and Arizona State University. Though out of state schools are looking to acquire her, she has her eyes set on Cal State Long Beach and plans to visit the campus in the near future.
McDonald credits her teammates and coaching staff for helping her get to where she is.
“We have a lot of team support and the coaches are great too,” said McDonald. “They’re the ones who have made me as fast as I have been and let me know what kind of foods I should be eating and how I should prepare for the races.”
Track and Feild Coach Traycie Kephart said McDonald puts in a tremendous amount of effor on and off the track.
“Sara is an amazing athlete and young lady,” said Kephart. “She has worked tirelessly all season during workouts, in the classroom and taking care of herself.”
Moorpark College Athletic Director Howard Davis said McDonald is constantly improving.
“Her performance this track season has been remarkable,” said Davis. “She seems to break a college record every time she competes.”
She is set to compete in the Southern California Championships Finals on May 11 in both the 400m and 200m and is currently ranked #1 in the state for the 400m.
