Ayesha Ewing's first experience with track and field was not a good one.
She competed for the Royal Knights AAU team when she was in first grade but she never lasted more than one season.
"I was kind of scared," she said. "I was kind of nervous."
Ewing didn't muster the courage to try the sport again until she was a freshman at Cardinal Ritter. And despite having very little experience and still being quite unsettled, Ewing appropriately went from being a lamb to a lion as a sprinter for the Lions. She was a standout from the start of her freshman season to the recent end of her senior campaign, winning eight state medals.
"I'm pretty proud," said Ewing, who lives in the Normandy area of her career. "I guess I blossomed at the right time."
She was her best at her last state meet recently in Jefferson City. She finished first in the 100 (12.3) in Class 3, took second in the 200 (24.8) and was third in the 400 (56.6).
"No one's more deserving," said Cardinal Ritter coach Samantha Betts. "She's worked so hard. She really put in the time this year. Of course, we all wanted a triple crown but we're still pleased."
Ewing was pleasantly surprised to win the 100 and very happy that she set personal bests in the 200 (her previous best was 25.0) and 400 (her personal record had been 57.6).
"I was surprised I won the 100 because in previous years I never finished high on the podium," she said. "I always made it to the final but I never did anything impressive in it. I wanted to come out and run and do the best I could and that's what I did."
She was able to improve dramatically in the 400 this year at state by not being so timid, Ewing said.
"Everybody says I won't get out (fast) in the 400," she said. "I usually don't because I'm afraid I won't have any energy at the end. At state, I didn't do that. I went out and ran. I learned if I go ahead and run, I've got great potential."
DePaul University coach Dave Botek obviously believes Ewing has lots of upside. That's why he gave her a full ride scholarship to his school. She will head there this fall where she plans to major in journalism, minor in communications and run a lot.
"At first, he said he only had a certain amount of money available (for scholarships)," Ewing said of Botek. "But when he met me and found out the type of person I am, he upped it. He said I had a look that showed I'm serious about what I'm doing."
Betts said Ewing is mature beyond her years. She doesn't speak a lot but when she does her teammates pay close attention.
"She has an old soul," said Betts. "I call her grandma. The nickname stuck, too. People on her summer team call her grandma, too."
Ewing, who was at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico recently competing and will run for the St. Louis Blues this summer, signed her letter of intent in early May. That helped calm a lot of her fears of failure.
"Yeah, I think it did," she said. "After that, I didn't have to worry about hitting certain times. I could just run."
That's what she did. Ewing saved her best for last. She's just glad she decided to face her fears and give track & field another chance in high school.
"It's very important to me (now)," she said. "It keeps me healthy. I can challenge myself when I'm doing it."
It's going to help her pay for her education at the next level, too. She's excited about that and wants to improve on the track, too.
"I just want to keep getting better and have more meets like I had at state," she said.
