RUSSELLVILLE, Mo. - Makenzie Schwartz wanted nothing more than to try a few sports in sixth grade to get active. She quickly found track would be her favorite and everything else was just a stepping stone.
After graduating from Russellville High School on May 11, Schwartz will continue her track career in the fall with Columbia College, Columbia.
"At first, I wasn't that good at running," Schwartz said of her eighth-grade self.
In her high school career, she ran the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 100-meter hurdle and 300-meter hurdle; bringing home all-district, all-state and all-conference awards in the last four years.
Her main challenges come from running cross country for the school. She also is on the softball and basketball team.
"I mostly do all the sports to stay in shape for track," Schwartz said. "It's really hard for me to run a good time or run what everyone else is running, because I'm not naturally a long-distance runner."
She said she enjoys the hurdles because not a lot of people can get off the ground and jump over something at a quick pace. Her motivation, so far, has been supportive friends, her parents Jeff and Beth Schwartz, coach Sean Lovelace and the thought of her late mother Chrissy Sheets-Schwartz.
"They never let me doubt myself - they always told me I could do it, no matter what," Schwartz said.
Columbia College is almost an hour away, and although she said she is looking forward to making new friends, she added she is not so sure how she feels about being away from home, yet.
Schwartz plans to major in criminal justice, with a photography minor.