Taiya Baraka is a multi-sport athlete at Struthers High School. She has been running track for six years, as well as playing AAU since fifth grade.
Baraka has so much passion for the sport. She loves running with her girls and doing teammate activities with them as well. The team has great memories and achievements over the last few years.
The runner has different activities she does before each meet.
“We always have things we do and games we play before we run… With certain warmups, we always find a way to have fun,” says Baraka.
The athlete had always watched girls on different track teams run on TV. She believes that’s where most of her passion and connection for the sport comes from. Baraka would try and improve herself by watching the different athletes and how they would run.
The senior always enjoyed watching the sport and tried to make herself a better runner.
“My inspiration was always just watching the track girls on TV and watching their every move to improve myself,” says the runner.
Baraka loves track, but it’s also a draining, stressful sport. The athlete keeps her motivation up by doing a bunch of different things, whether it be by herself or with her teammates.
The senior has many mixed emotions about the sport.
“Track is definitely a mental game and can stress me out and make me have a breakdown, but at the end of a good race or a good meet, it’s always the best feeling,” says the runner.
