Cierra Valley is the one of the 2025 recipient of the LVRR Scholarships.

LVRR: What college will you attend and what is your intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
CV: I will be attending Rowan University and majoring in Nursing. I plan to run while I’m in college as well.

LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
CV: I started running at 15 during my first year of high school. I knew I wanted to play a sport at Parkland, but I wasn’t sure as to which one, so I tried various sports to see which one I liked the most. After trying two other sports, basketball and soccer, I tried out for track and stuck with it ever since.

LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
CV: My greatest accomplishment in my career would be my improvement from competing at the State Championship Meet over these four years. My first time going to the meet was in my freshman year and I went as an alternate for the 4×100-meter team. The following year, I actually ran at the meet as the 2nd leg on the relay team. That was such a special year to me, because it was the first time I competed at States and it was so exciting medaling from my first race there. This same year, my relay team qualified to run at New Balance, which was one of my goals throughout my highschool career. When we did, we ended up placing 12th in the 4×100-Meter Relay Championship. In my junior year, I ran three events at the State Meet, the 200-meter, 4×100-meter, and the 4×400-meter. Three of the most rewarding moments was competing this year since I qualified to run three events and for the 4×100-meter relay, we medaled while running with a brand new team because the seniors graduated. I was so elated that our relay team medaled and that we qualified to run at New Balance Nationals again. In my senior year, I ran the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays. We ended up winning in the 4×100-meter relay and we placed third in the 4×400-meter relay. I truly couldn’t have been more proud and happy with the way my teammates and I ran at this meet.

LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
CV: In my junior year, I had a hard time trying to balance work, track, and school. Between having track practice after school as well as club meetings, I had to find time to study and complete my school work as well to achieve the grades that I wanted to earn.

LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
CV: My whole family has been influential role models to me each in their own way, but if I had to pick one, it would be my sister, Makaylin. She’s pushed me to be the best person I can be. From just watching her grow up, she has taught me to be academically driven and to never be afraid of a challenge, especially if it’s for something that I want to accomplish. She has also shown me how to stay true to myself, have confidence in myself, and the importance of being there for the people you care about. For these reasons and so many more she has shown me that I can accomplish anything I want to accomplish even if it’s something that is considered “a path less taken”

LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
CV: I have a huge interest in gardening and have over 26 plants. My interest in plants started in 2018 when I got an aloe vera plant and since then I’ve been collecting more plants to grow ever since. Of all the plants I have grown, I would say my favorite is Chinese Money Plants, which I currently have three of.

LVRR: What is one word you would say to someone who has just started running– whether it be a youth in the LVRR Kids Series, or an older individual- about why running is worth it?
CV: Worthwhile or fulfilling gratifying

LVRR: Is anyone else in your family a runner?
CV: My older brother, Dexter, was a runner in high school and college. When he ran, he was a 3-time All American runner in New Balance Nationals. When I was younger, I always loved going to his track meets to see him compete. I also remember working out with him and seeing what he did to prepare for his track season and it was always lots of fun. He really inspired me to give track a try myself..

LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
CV: I ran the 400-meter, 200-meter, 100-meter, 4×100-meter relay, and 4×400-meter relay.

LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
CV: I like to watch the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdling events. Because I think it’s so cool seeing people run times that are fast times for an open 100-meter or 400-meter.

LVRR: Who is in your running support network?
CV: My family has been a huge motivation to me throughout running in high school. My parents, especially my dad, have always made an effort to be at every meet I’ve competed in. No matter how far it was, I could always count on one of my family members to be there. They have always supported me to the fullest extent and it was always so exciting hearing them cheer for me during my races. Throughout running track, I pushed myself to compete the best that I can not just for me, but because of the encouragement I’ve gotten from my family.

LVRR: If you ever feel unmotivated to get out the door during PA cold winter months, what tips or tricks do you use to push yourself? Also do you brave the poor weather conditions or stick indoors/on the treadmill?
CV: I think about how I want to perform during the track season when spring comes. I would always keep in mind that if I didn’t workout during the cold months, it would be harder for me to perform how I want to when the track season comes around. Also, during the winter, I competed on my school’s club track team, so I braved the cold most of the time, but if I had a chance to workout indoors, I preferred to.

LVRR: When faced with a rare but disappointing race finish or workout, how do you pick up and motivate yourself to try again? Is there a specific running mantra that has helped you pull through disappointment?
CV: The phrase “next race” gets me ready to compete again. I got this phrase from my dad, when I first needed a pick-me-up after a race. He told me my brother would say that to him after he ran a race and didn’t have the results he expected. So for me personally, especially since I ran multiple events in one meet, this phrase got me out of my head about my past race and instead got me thinking about the next race I had coming up.

LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
CV: I love baking or cooking different desserts and foods, gardening, and hiking.