Women's Cross Country | 10/17/2016 3:08:00 PM

Laura Aceves keeps making a name for herself with the Coyotes as she has races her way through the record books.
 
Aceves began her CSUSB career in 2015 when she joined the cross-country team after transferring from East L.A. College.
 
"When I started running, it was because running is such a humble sport," Aceves said. "All I need is my running shoes and a road. That's it."
 
Head Coach Tom Burleson and assistant coach Kevin Barda followed her two-year career at East L.A. College. Burleson figures both he and Barda saw Aceves compete in about six competitions between the two sports and they were smitten with her performances.
 
"It just seemed that what CSUSB had to offer in terms of her academic study (kinesiology), it seemed to be a good fit,'' Burleson said. "She has the ability and she's gotten stronger over the last two seasons. She's a smart runner. Laura knows how to position herself in race and understands how to make tactical moves.''
 
She was an instant success in the fall of 2015, earning five top-25 places in six races.
 
The track and field team, which held its first season of competition in 2015, welcomed her in 2016. She quickly set herself apart from the crowd with CCAA championship times in her first competition in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
 
She earned All-CCAA honors in the conference meet, and later that month, became the first Coyote ever to compete in the NCAA Track and Field Championship, held in Bradenton, Fla.
 
"It was a huge accomplishment that I was the first one to qualify for nationals and it's nice also to represent the school and my team," Aceves said.
 
Aceves faced many different competitors from schools she had not seen before while participating in the nationals.
 
"It was a different environment," she said. "I really enjoyed that I got to that level with different runners."
 
Not only is Aceves the top runner on the squad, she works hard with her teammates at making them better.
 
"Laura is the captain and the fastest girl on the team, so she is the first one to bring us in on race day," teammate Shanna Shernaman said. "She has confidence in herself and her team which makes us work harder and perform better. She always has words of encouragement to help motivate us for every practice and race.''
 
Aceves picked up right where she left off with track and field when it came time for the 2016 cross country season to start. She finished second in her first 4,000-meter race of the season with a time of 14:22.
 
In the second competition of the season, Aceves broke the school's 5,000-meter record by almost a full minute and her own personal best by almost two.
 
"It's more than just breaking records," said Aceves, who has earned two CCAA Runner of the Week honors this season. "It's to prove to myself that I can push my limits. I always look to improve. I'm going to give my best, I'm going to go all out and I'm going to compete.''
 
Aceves proved that her previous accomplishments were not flukes when she finished nearly a minute in front of the next closest competitor in the 5,000-meter race here at CSUSB during the Coyote Challenge.  
 
"I felt pretty relaxed because I didn't have any pressure behind me, I didn't have anyone in front of me," Aceves said. "I didn't really feel like I was actually racing."
 
When she isn't on the track or course, Aceves finds other places to train.
 
"I like to explore everywhere," she said. "I love running in the mountains, trails, parks, the beach. I can go anywhere. I just love to explore."
 
Aceves not only gets high marks on the track, but also gets them in the classroom.
 
"I do my best to stay on top of my classes," she said. "If I'm good at running I should be good in school too. School is first and it will bring me a good future since running won't last forever."
 
Aceves plans on continuing her running career after graduation, in which she is scheduled to earn her bachelor's degree in June 2017.
 
"I want to run marathons, I want to do track," she said. "I just want to keep running, because I just can't stop. I really enjoy it and I love it."
 
As far as a career choice, Aceves is still undecided, but has a few ideas in mind.
 
"I want to be involved with health or sports," she said. "I would love to have a full-time job in my field, or become a coach."