When Alissa Pudlitzke joined the Evergreen Storm Track Club five years ago, it put her in the fast lane toward running for Camas High School and Boise State University.
“I remember the first time I was interviewed, I was asked if I wanted to run in college,” she recalled. “I had no idea back then. I didn’t even know what I was going to wear the next day. And now, I’m going to run in college. It’s just amazing how far this club has taken me.”
Pudlitzke wore the Storm uniform for the last time at the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals June 26, at Hayward Field, in Eugene, Oregon. She earned seventh place in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 10 minutes, 20.30 seconds.
“My parents told me, ‘this is your last high school meet. Go out there and make it a memory,'” Pudlitzke said. “I just went out with that mindset, and I was really happy with how I did.”
The heat proved to be the first obstacle. Pudlitzke said it was 108 degrees on the track at the start of the race.