Running out of this world

Women's cross country runner Marina Santana is hoping her nursing degree takes her across the Atlantic

By Umaymah Rashid
The Collegian

JUNIOR PRE — NURSING STUDENT MARINA Santana is not just an athlete and member of the cross country and track teams, she is also a friend, motivator and leader.

That is how her teammates and coaches describe her.

“She is an awesome friend, a very hard worker, very trained and a good leader,” friend and teammate Patricia Torres said.

Coach Joe Gonzales also recognizes those characteristics in Santana.

“She is very goal oriented, outgoing, and her commitment to the team is very helpful,” Gonzales said.

Santana has been a cross country runner for eight years and learned her leadership and motivational skills in high school, where she was captain of both the track and cross country teams her junior and senior years.

Although Santana is considered to be a leader and a motivator, she claims it is her team that drives her.

“My team motivates me,” Santana said. “We all have the same goal, we all are here for one purpose, to run well and encourage each other.”

Santana not only performs well on the field, she also performs well in the classroom. When she is not practicing, she is studying hard to maintain and raise her 3.4 grade point average.

Santana is almost finished with her pre-nursing program and plans to apply for acceptance into the nursing program next fall. She plans to use her degree to become an emergency room trauma nurse and wants to practice in a third world country.

“I want to travel to other countries, maybe Africa or New Zealand,” Santana said.

Her desire to help is also evident when it comes to her team.

“When you’re down, she always comes and gives you a hand,” Torres said. “She’ll go out of her way to make you feel better.”

Gonzales also recognizes Santana’s desire to help. Gonzales said she was instrumental in recruiting three of her former high school teammates to join the cross country team and attend Fresno State.

Although Santana has accomplished many things, she still has more to do. Included on her list of goals are raising her grade point average, being accepted in to the nursing program, making it to regionals and winning a Western Athletic Conference championship.

Santana credits a lot of her success on the field to Gonzales.

“None of the girls could do it without Coach Gonzales; he researches our times, new developments and new techniques,” Santana said. “He helped build a young, strong team, and with that I think we will win WAC this year.”

Off the field Santana’s motivation comes from another place.

“My inspiration would have to be my family, my mother,” she said. “She always taught us to work hard, be respectful, go to church, and that you have to wok hard for what you want.”

Inspiration is also gained from her fellow athletes.

“All you do is eat, sleep, and think about running all season,” Santana said. “My teammates are my family here, so it helps me when we run.”

Outside of school, track and cross country, Santana tries to maintain an active social life.

“When we’re not running or studying, we try to hang out, go to the movies or dinner,” she said.

Santana plans to continue running long after her collegiate career is over. She says she’ll do it for fun or just to challenge herself. She plans to run a marathon and says she sees herself running for a long time.

Ultimately Santana sees herself as a student taking advantage of the opportunities that being an athlete has provided her.

Others see her as more that that.

Torres described her as an extremely talented athlete who works hard at what she does and always wants to improve herself.

“She is very humble, and she always helps other athletes,” Torres said. “She is one of my best friends.”

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