Striding for greatness, cross country runner Ivanova Yanes has achieved All-Conference once again.
Aside from all of the accolades she has earned during her career, there is a reason behind why she runs.
“Ever since I can remember, running has been part of my life. My parents both loved to run — in fact, they actually met at a running club in Venezuela. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and came to the U.S. when I was 15, where I finished high school in Hollywood, Fla.,” Yanes said.
Family bond and connection continued to be a huge influence in Yanes’s life.
“My mom was a competitive runner in Venezuela and was recognized as one of the top distance runners there. My dad was also a great runner in college; he qualified for nationals and even competed in races outside the country. Growing up, I would watch my parents race. They’d bring me to the park while they trained, and after they finished running, we’d play together. Eventually, I wanted to run too,”
Yanes has consistently been a factor for the Javelina Cross Country team for the past three years, her consistency and drive to succeed has placed her at the very top of the hill for Women’s Cross Country at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
“Ivanova is our most decorated female distance athlete. She has held or holds almost every school record above the women’s 800 and absolutely destroyed most of the records,” Assistant Cross Country Coach Zachary Hall said.
Coach Hall has coached Ivanova for quite some time seeing through every major accomplishment in her collegiate career.
“Coaching Iva over these last six years has been awesome. She has come a very long way since our time in South Florida,” Hall said.
Aside from the support from her coaches, teammates and family, Yanes finds strength in her faith, and credits it for her will to succeed and continue to run as hard as she does.
“Over time, my passion for running has grown beyond just competition. Every time I run, I feel free. It’s a way for me to clear my mind and connect with God. Running gives me peace, and it’s often when I feel closest to Him – especially on the easy runs. Now, my passion for running remains because every time I run, I feel free. It helps me let go of whatever is going on in my day, and the best part is that I feel closer to God when I’m running — it’s a great time to talk to Him. I also love the challenge of pushing myself beyond what I think I’m capable of. It always amazes me how the body can go further than we imagine when we stay disciplined and believe in ourselves,” Yanes said.
Through Yanes’s iron will to succeed, she lifts her teammates around her up, encouraging them to run to the best of their abilities.
“Training with Iva is always so inspiring because she works so hard and never makes excuses. Being on the team with Iva has taught me what the perfect teammate is, she shows up on the field and the track. While preforming she always supports and encourages her teammates,” junior runner Ella Hester said.
Not only do Yanes’s teammates appreciate her, but she appreciates them, and credits them for why she’s able to stay disciplined.
“Throughout the season, I’ve had my highs and lows, but looking back, all the hard work over the years has been worth it. I’m so thankful for my teammates — the women’s team is amazing and always brightens my day, and the guys’ team is hilarious. They keep things fun and make me laugh, which makes training even more enjoyable. Seeing both teams show up to practice motivated and ready to work has really inspired me to stay disciplined,” Yanes said.