Her petite stature is just a disguise. The determination that lies beneath Lisa Espinoza is what casts her giant shadow. Year round, she dedicates herself to track and field. She runs, she pole vaults, she hurdles.The senior does it all.

“Track challenges me mentally and physically,” she said. “I like being fit, but track is a mental game.” She believes that mentality determines performance. When she’s out on the field, the world around her becomes a blur. “I block everything out.” The meet is all that matters.

Track and field isn’t a seasonal sport to her, it’s an every day commitment. “I haven’t done any other sport other than track for quite some time.” This, Espinoza said, is what makes her not the typical high school athlete. “Most athletes at Stagg will play a fall, winter and spring sport.” Whether it’s cross country, basketball, and track, no comibination of sports will do. Track is all she needs.

“I’m currently talking to the (University of the Pacific) track coach to see if they can get some field events,” she said, being that the team is only made of track runners. “We’ll see how that goes.” Being that field events are her main events, she wishes to pursue the sport in college.

Whether on the field or in the classroom, Espinoza pushes herself to excel above her peers.