Oakwood’s Grace Davis commits to Danville Area Community College
By Dani Tietz
dani@sjodaily.com
Discipline has paid off for Oakwood’s Grace Davis.
After missing out on participating in track and field her senior year, Davis signed with Danville Area Community College’s cross country program at the end of May.
Davis capped off her senior year on the Oakwood/Salt Fork cross country team as captain, leading runners to a Vermilion Valley Conference championship, and qualifying for IHSA Sectionals after finishing 40th at the Class 1A regional in Tuscola.
The long-distance runner, who began in track and field as just a way to stay in shape during the spring, said she now lives for the competitive aspect of running.
By the time Davis was a sophomore she lengthened the distance she completed out, filling in for 800-meter relays whenever her coach needed her to.
“As I became a Junior I decided to run the 1600 as well as the 800 and I realized how much I loved the longer distance races,” Davis said.
With a positive attitude leading the way, Davis learned to trust the training process.
“My coaches (Juice and Coach Ryan) have definitely shaped me into the athlete I am today. They have shown me how to work hard and gain the reward from the hard work. They have both pushed me to become a better athlete each year I have had them as a coach,” she said.
“My dad, Troy, has also been very influential when it comes to me becoming the athlete I am today. My dad has always preached about what it takes to be a good athlete and teammate, without his motivation I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today.”
Coming into her senior season, Davis had her sights set on helping her teammates reach their full potential while working towards her own PR’s.
“My highlights of my career have just been each time I PR’d,” she said. “I feel like that is the best feeling you can have as a runner. I will look back fondly at the great memories I had running relays with my teammates and also the races I have won within my track career.
“Being an athlete has taught me self-discipline. If you don’t put in the work you won’t succeed. The grind never stops when you’re an athlete.”
