SPARTA – Everywhere Juliette Laracuente goes, she puts her best foot forward.
Whether she’s running, jumping, leaping or hurdling, the Highland sophomore meets every challenge with the same competitive fire — on and off the track.
Laracuente was once a gymnast, winning three state titles in elementary school. Then in the seventh grade, she took on track and field with the same fervor that drove her on the balance beam.
“I’ve always had that drive and something to push me,” she said. “Running has always been like that for me, so I feel that track is the best sport to push and motivate me. I always have to thank gymnastics for my drive to always be the best at something. No matter what I do, I always put my best foot forward. What happens on the track and what it teaches me also happens in everyday life.”
Her competitive spirit, however, is not just limited to track and field.
“I really love math,” Laracuente said. “Currently I’m in pre-calculus and science. I’m also in chemistry right now, so those are probably my two favorite subjects. That takes a lot of time and effort, and you have to sit down and put in the work. Doing all the technique work in the classroom adds up — just like it does on the track.”
After winning the long jump, high jump, 100-meter hurdles and 4x100 relay on April 9, Laracuente had to take it down a notch while she fights through some soreness in her legs.
That didn’t stop her from anchoring the 4x200 (1 minute, 52.66 seconds) and running the 200 meters (27.55), finishing first in both events at the Scots’ home meet against Centerburg and Mount Gilead on Tuesday, Apr. 13.
Laracuente — who won the state indoor titles in the long jump, high jump and triple jump, and was fourth in the state indoor 60-meter hurdles last winter — didn’t do any jumping on Tuesday.
“She is very good with her event management when we are at meets,” Highland coach Chip Wentz said. “She’s a great athlete. Right now, we’re learning to manage her injuries and learning what events are good for her and which ones are not. Long jump and hurdles hurt her right now, although she loves both events.”
Being on temporary limited duty was an opportunity to focus on relays with her teammates.
“She’s very amiable,” Wentz said. “She has high goals. She’s very team-oriented.”
Laracuente is always preparing for the next challenge.
“I’m really wanting to run and jump in college,” she said. “I want to be a nurse when I get older. Both of my siblings are nurses and my grandfather was a doctor. So I have a lot of inspiration.”
Highland’s girls (90 points) placed first on Tuesday.
Aside from Laracuente, Highland teammate Makenna Belcher placed first in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and the 4x400.
Mount Gilead (38 points) was second. Isabella Schroeter took first in the high jump and Shelba Fisher won the shot put for the Indians.
Centerburg (32 points) got a pair of firsts out of Chloe Goulter in the 100-meter and the high jump.
Meanwhile, Mount Gilead’s boys, led by a trio of double winners — Matthew Bland (400 and 4x200), Tyler Knight (800 and 4x400) and Owen High (high jump and 4x100) — took first place with 70 points.
Centerburg, which finished second with 54 points, was lifted by Ben Riegel, who was first in the discus and the shot put.
For the Highland boys (51 points), Landon Remmert (110- and 300 hurdles) and Landyn Albanese (100 and long jump), each got a pair of wins.
