West Morris’ Castaneda celebrated success with a smile

After a brilliant junior season that culminated with being named the All Daily Record Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Sierra Castaneda “was definitely looking to have a better season” as a West Morris senior.

“I didn’t want the pressures of having to do it again get to me,” Castaneda said. “I didn’t want to compare myself to last year, not compare last season to this season. I just didn’t want to put any expectations on it.”

Castaneda went back to a simple approach.

“I definitely kept the mindset of why I became a runner in the first place,” Castaneda said. “It’s something I did just because I had fun. I enjoyed running. So I knew I had to do that, just enjoy it. If it wasn’t fun anymore, then it would be tough to do, and I didn’t want to have that happen if that could happen.”

Castaneda dominated the local circuit again and is the All Daily Record Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for the second time, joining Roxbury’s Lauren Penney and Laura Vigilante and Mackenzie Barry of Mendham over the past decade.

Castaneda won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Large Schools race (18:21.11) for a second straight year. A week later, she repeated as the winner of the Morris County Championships (18:06.56). She won the NJSIAA North 2 Group III gold medal (18:07.49) for a second straight time. At the overall Group III championships in Holmdel, Castaneda fell at the two-mile mark but then recovered to finish third in 19:00.

Castaneda finished 11th at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (18:43). She qualified for the Nike Nationals in Portland, Oregon, where she finished 47th.

“It’s a great honor, because I always idolized those girls,” Castaneda said. “I wanted to be Mackenzie Barry, so it’s definitely something very special to me. I think it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Castaneda and Barry have a lot in common, because both runners got their athletic start as swimmers. While Barry later became a full-time runner who is now competing at Providence, Castaneda is still an active swimmer for West Morris.

After competing at nationals last Saturday morning, Castaneda flew home Sunday, arrived at the airport at 12:30 a.m., got home around 3 a.m. and swam four events for the Wolfpack on Monday afternoon.

“I’m also exhausted,” Castaneda laughed after competing in the 200-meter individual medley, the 400-meter freestyle and two relays.

“Without question, I think swimming is a powerful component to her training,” West Morris cross country coach Jay Herrigel said. “She’s not in the pool killing herself. She’s also saving her legs. She’s had some shin issues in the past, so she goes into the pool and has low-impact training. She’s just a well-oiled machine.”

Castaneda was definitely challenged by the influx of freshmen, especially Abby Loveys of Randolph and Anna George of Kinnelon.

Castaneda has yet to declare her intentions about college, but since she's one of the top two students in her class, it’s safe to say that an Ivy League school has to be in the mix.

“I couldn’t be happier with the season I had as a whole,” Castaneda said. “I just went in and did my best. I am satisfied. It’s definitely a good feeling to be recognized. I want to inspire other people, to have the same effect others had on me.”

There’s another aspect to Castaneda’s approach to running. No matter what happens, no matter the course, she’s spotted with a bright, wide grin throughout the race. She even fell this year at the Group III meet, hurting her knee, but kept on smiling.

“I truly believe she has a love for the sport,” Herrigel said. “She’s not self-absorbed. She’s just happy and excited about what she can do. I think that running is 90 percent mental, and she’s able to keep that positive outlook, that impressive mental approach every race. She’s just so relaxed. It’s amazing. It’s also contagious, too, because I see it with other girls on the team.”

Okay, here comes the secret to Castaneda’s smile.

“I think it’s my way of tricking myself into ignoring the pain,” Castaneda said. “I definitely don’t want to let anyone know I’m hurting.”