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Saguaro’s Dunckley aiming to reach a new level

BY ELIYA HERRIOTT

Progress Contributing Writer

She was a freshman phenom last year. This year, she is a sensational sophomore.

Evangeline Dunckley, a sophomore cross country runner at Saguaro, comes from a running family, and she has made her presence known as a Sabercat.

Dunckley’s love for running came at a young age. Her mom did track and �ield in high school while her dad did cross country. Her two brothers are currently runners on the team and her older sister graduated from Saguaro, where she also ran. Since the Dunckley household is �illed with runners, cross country is something Evangeline has always known. Speci�ically, Dunckley’s parents have had a big impact on her life as a runner.

“They pushed me to do my best and they’ve done it before,” Dunckley said. “They know how much work you have to put in.”

During Dunckley’s freshman year, she had an experience like no other. She had the opportunity to compete at Nike Nationals as a freshman. She ran at one of the most well-known track and �ield stadium’s, Hayward Field. Located at the University of Oregon.

She ran against freshmen from different high schools, and she was the only runner that represented Saguaro at nationals. Running on such a big stage as a freshman is a big accomplishment in itself.

At the Chandler Invitational, Dunckley registered her PR of 19 minutes and 11.5 seconds in the 5,000-meter race. Cross country is not just a sport to Dunckley. It has also helped shape her into who she is today.

“It pushes me to be a better person in general,” Dunckley said. “I learn life skills like perseverance, determination and hard work and I just love being a part of the team.”

This season, Dunckley is reaching for new heights and striving for new goals. One of which is to break 19 minutes in the 5,000-meter. She is also aiming to get back to Nike Nationals. Dunckley has also in�luenced her other fellow Sabercats. Her appearance at Nike Nationals inspired her teammates to become better. Her impact has even reached those that have been on the team the longest.

Simone Stephens, a senior, has been doing cross country since she was in sixth grade. She is having a great season thus far and wants to keep running when she goes off to college. Even though Stephens is a senior, she too can see the impact Dunckley has had on her.

“She really motivates me to be better,” Stephens said. “It is really cool how she went to Nike Nationals, and I think that’s a really great accomplishment to have.”

In addition to cross country, Dunckley is also a soccer player for the Phoenix Rising Football Club. To be able to balance both sports is not easy. Yet, Dunckley has embraced it and challenges herself every day. There are a lot of sacri�ices that go into being a successful cross country athlete. Sleep is certainly one of them. Saguaro practices start at 5:30 a.m. The workouts that are planned for practices depend on what part of the season the team is in. For instance, when the season began the Sabercats did long distance running to build up endurance.

Although getting up in the morning may be dif�icult at times, Dunckley has found a certain kind of peace and appreciation with rising at the crack of dawn and doing what she loves.

“I just kind of like the feeling of running in the dark when no one else is out,” Dunckley said.

No matter what circumstances Dunckley has faced while being an athlete, she continues to strive to be the best version of herself.

Head coach Todd Gilbreath knows that Dunckley is capable of anything because she is devoted to the sport. Oftentimes, Gilbreath will check in with Dunckley to see how she is feeling during a morning practice after a night of soccer. Still, Dunckley gives her all during practices regardless of her other obligations outside of cross country.

“She’s there every morning, consistent, and ready to do the workouts,” Gilbreath said.

Dunckley scratched the surfaced when she attended Nike Nationals. This is a new year for her, and she has her mind set on her goals for this season.

The training aspect of cross country is one of the most dif�icult parts of the sport. For Dunckley, putting in the work allows her to see the results in races.

Dunckley is a competitor. Her family, teammates, and coaches all know that she is going to give her all to the sport and life in general. Although she is just in her second year, her maturity is seen beyond measures.

The journey for the standout sophomore is underway and this is just the �irst few chapters in her story.

“She does not quit,” Gilbreath said. “She �ights all the way through, and she never gives up on a race.”

Saguaro standout sophomore cross country star Evangeline Dunckley is taking her training and performance to a new level this season after a standout freshman year for the Saber-

cats. (Eliya Herriott/Progress Contributor)