Senior Sami Patel is no stranger to starting over. She started track as a sophomore, alongside teammates who had been running their entire life. However, just three months after beginning her running career, she was helping lead her team to states. Now, she’s committed to run Division 1 cross country and track and field at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO).

Before her competitive running career, Sami played field hockey for five years; she was a forward on the Los Altos High School varsity field hockey team during her sophomore year. At the time, her running experience was limited to a few 12-kilometer races with her dad.

“I wouldn’t really train for those initial races, I would just show up and do it,” Sami said. “Competing seemed so unrealistic at the time, but I just told myself, ‘I’m gonna do this.’” 

Upon joining the track team in her sophomore year, Sami was instantly noticed by track  Head Coach Stephanie Mackenzie. 

“She was a natural and she had some good speed,” Mackenzie said. 

Sami’s first track season was massively successful: she joined the top seven varsity team after just one JV race and finished seventh in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Qualifiers. During her junior track season, Sami helped guide her team to a first-place finish at the California Interscholastic Federation State Championship meet with an individual 15th-place finish in the 800 meter. 

“I credit my rapid improvement with aiming unrealistically high, because you never know how good a race can be and you never know your limits,” Sami said. 

After falling in love with track, Sami decided to quit field hockey and join cross country in the fall of 2022. But that fall, Sami found herself feeling stuck between JV and varsity, with the same ten girls competing for the top spots. With only seven available spots on the varsity squad, the thought of keeping their place was always on top of all the girl’s minds. It was simple: the fastest times meant a spot in the next race.

“Every race competing for top seven was so stressful,” Sami said. “I just didn’t know how to race in cross country, so it took me a while to figure out the strategies.” 

At the same time, Sami continued aspiring for faster times, supported by her teammates, who helped her develop a passion for the sport. 

“Sami’s an inspiration for so many of the underclassmen,” sophomore Emma Lewis said. “She’s the glue that holds this team together.” 

This November, Sami officially committed to Cal Poly SLO. Though Sami also considered the University of Irvine and the University of California, Santa Barbara, after visiting Cal Poly SLO, her mind was set. 

“I immediately felt at home with the team,” Sami said. “I wasn’t going to find a team that was so supportive at any other school.” 

This fall, Sami started her senior cross country season out strong with a huge improvement to her personal record and a second-place team finish for Los Altos High School at the Lowell Invitational, securing her spot on the varsity team. A week later, the team raced at the Monterey Invitational, where Sami led the team to victory and finished second overall in the entire race.

 “She has gone from being a really good runner to one of the best runners in CCS,” Mackenzie said. 

Throughout her career, Sami has used her determination to find her stride in the last season of her high school cross-country cross career. 

“This year, I get to run for me and for the team,” Sami said. “I feel like I’m finally running for a purpose.”