D’Alessandro’s dedication to running began as a complement to another sport. “I started out as a soccer player,” she says. However, she reflects, “I only really liked the running part of it.” Ever since she realized this, cross country has been a match made in heaven.

Mr. Baird, the varsity girls cross country coach, describes her as “a highlight reel”. When she competes, D’Alessandro almost always finds success, placing fourth in a meet at the Canterbury School and third in the Richard Miller Invitational at the Westminster School.

D’Alessandro hopes that the future contains even more opportunities for her to continue running. “For college, definitely; outside of college, probably just fun-runs,” states D’Alessandro.

As the team’s captain, she takes on a lot of responsibility, organizing themed runs or other bonding activities for the team to participate in every Friday with her co-captains. She sets a good example for the other girls, motivating them to persevere mentally and improve physically. When asked what advice she would give new runners, D’Alessandro says, “At first it might really suck, but just stick with it; it’s gonna pay off eventually.”

D’Alessandro truly inspires everyone she meets with her fiery passion and determination for this often grueling sport. Her dedication to running has clearly translated into talent and success, with her personal record also being the fastest on her team. For D’Alessandro, it isn’t just about how fast she goes, but rather about how much fun she has while she continues down her path to the finish line.