El Camino senior earns Spirit of Sport Award

Running is the central theme of Olivia Jarvis' life.

The senior captain of El Camino High's girls and boys cross country teams, Jarvis also runs track, plays basketball, performs the viola in symphony, holds down a part-time job and volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House and the Summer Reading Clinic. In addition, she manages a 4.5 grade-point average.

Despite all the running to and from her various activities, Jarvis wouldn't have it any other way. Her calendar is a synchronized mix of organized chaos.

"There's never a dull moment of my day," said Jarvis, who manages to find time to fall asleep by 9 each night. "I'm always on the go. Somehow I manage to get it all done — and still enjoy it."

Teachers and students at El Camino have admired Jarvis for her organizational and leadership skills.

Now others are taking notice. Jarvis recently earned the CIF Spirit of Sport Award for fall 2017.

The honor recognizes athletes who have demonstrated the California Interscholastic Federation's tenets of Pursuing Victory with Honor. The award — also bestowed on Eureka High football player Sergio Manzo — includes a $1,000 scholarship.

"Olivia is one of those athletes who steps up and has always led," El Camino cross country coach Terra Sarnacki said. "(She has) a get-it-done type attitude, which has set a really positive tone for the team and a competitive tone."

Jarvis earned All-Avocado League honors in cross country the past two years, and earned invites to the CIF state meet her freshman and sophomore years. She and her Wildcats teammates also qualified for the state meet this year.

Jarvis is also a member of the track team and played junior varsity basketball until this year, opting to focus more of her energy on running. Jarvis was first introduced to cross country as a seventh-grader, on the suggestion of her PE coach, and the sport has held a place in her heart ever since.

While the Wildcats welcome her efforts as a talented runner, it's what Jarvis contributes off the course that makes her a true asset to the team. Just as she gives back through her volunteer work, Jarvis is selfless with her time when it comes to the cross country team.

"It's good to have someone to look up to like her," senior runner Mackie Brown said. "There's a lot of hard times when you're running. It's really intense work. … She encourages everyone."

Sophomore runner Antonio Dinis has stepped up his commitment after witnessing Jarvis' dedication.

On a beach run earlier this year, Dinis pushed himself to keep pace with Jarvis so they could bond over workout playlist favorites like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

"She corresponds with everyone and makes us feel like we're welcome," Dinis said. "She doesn't raise her voice. She knows what she's doing. She has that leader mentality."

Jarvis is a coach's dream of a captain, taking it upon herself to organize team bonding activities and making sure each runner completes their mileage and takes their drills seriously. The soft-spoken Jarvis sets the tone and leads by example, qualities her teammates love.

"Olivia has definitely been the heart and soul of the team this year," junior runner Amanda Bell said. "She's brought the best out of all of us. She's pushed us to our limits and showed us what it means to be a cross country athlete. … Every single race, she's been there for us."

Lafferty is a freelance writer.

Let's block ads! (Why?)