Annabelle Stewart running in the Wendy’s Invitational. Photo Credits: Self-Submitted by Annabelle Stewart
Sophie Parker, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn
When you hear the words “reconstruction surgery,” it's usually not associated with a Cross-Country Conference Champion, but Annabelle Stewart, a senior at Watauga High School, found a way. After recovering from a dislocated patella in her junior year, Stewart made the decision to focus on running instead of soccer, the sport she had played for so long before. By the beginning of the season, she had claimed her spot as one of the top runners on the team, with so much success ahead of her.
“Sophomore year of soccer, I found myself really enjoying the running that we were doing in soccer,” Stewart explained. “It was probably one of my favorite parts about being on the team. I just really like the feeling of running, and then the coaches told me after that I should try cross-country in the fall, so I did.”
The transition from soccer to running would’ve gone smoothly, had it not been for the injury Stewart suffered in September of 2023. Needing surgery, Stewart was forced to take a step back from sports, challenging her not only physically but mentally, too.
“My injury was something that put me out of doing anything,” Stewart said. “I've always done some type of activity, like swimming or soccer. I've always been able to do something with my legs and move my body every day, and this forced me to stop, to be okay with being still, to allow myself to heal and be at peace with recovery.”
Stewart swiftly got herself back into sports after her healing process and quickly discovered her potential for the 2024 cross-country season. She was actively recovering during her swim season while regaining her athleticism for track.
“I swam for the high school and club teams during the winter, and then in the spring, track started, and my knee was still recovering,” Stewart explained. “I didn't realize how much it was still recovering until now that I'm fully healed. I know what it feels like to actually run and not hurt as much. I had a little bit of a limp in the beginning, but it got better over time. I'm a lot more conscious of my knee and how I move now after the injury.”
Months of summer training led up to the season, and months of in-season training culminated in the conference meet. It was finally time for Stewart to prove to herself what she could accomplish.
“After a few successful races, I thought, ‘This is what I'm capable of; this is what I've been working for.’ Like conference— this is what it’s all led up to,” said Stewart. “Who knows what would have happened if I had a junior season, but thankfully I was able to recover enough and get to where I am right now.”
Though there was some doubt, Stewart reached her goal, and then some, by winning the conference championship and helping pave the way for Watauga to take home the team victory.
“My goal going into it was to PR (personal record), because it was the first course I'd run where I actually knew the course. I wasn’t thinking about winning,” Stewart said. “Then I talked to the coach, right before the race, and he told me that halfway through the race, after one and a half miles, I needed to kick it. That's when I started passing Callie. During the race, all I was thinking was: The pain is temporary. I have the power to do this. I have the strength to do this, and that really pushed me throughout the race.”
After an astonishing performance, there is still more to come for Stewart. She has aspirations to further her running career post-high school, feeling as though this is just the start of her journey, and she’s excited for the upcoming track season.
“For new runners, you're not gonna be amazing right as you start. Same for me. You can't expect to be as good as you want to be when you're first starting,” Stewart said. “You just have to be patient. You’ve got to put in the work, commit to practice and running, take care of your legs and your body, fuel up, sleep—just all of it. That's going to help you improve.”
Inspiring not only her teammates but all athletes facing difficult challenges, Stewart provides encouragement and motivation to all through her story and journey to success. She sheds light on the fact that a bright future is not made by dwelling on the past, but by focusing on the present and being patient.
“I'm really grateful for everything that's happened to me,” Stewart said. “I think that everything has happened, even the injury, for a reason—to put me in the place I am.”
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