December 2024
By Anthony Mendoza, Staff Reporter
It all began when a few of us decided to take part in Leo Manzano’s program, Phoenix, a training initiative designed to help runners push their limits and build something more than just personal bests. I was one of the first to join just to see what it was all about. I’d been looking for a way to elevate my training and this program seemed like the perfect fit. The structure, the coaching, and most of all, the community of like-minded athletes was everything I needed to take my running to the next level.
After getting settled into the program I had this idea—what if we could expand the team. I knew that to really make an impact we needed more talent around us so I invited some of the fastest athletes from KIPP Austin Collegiate cross country team that I race for. We all began racing under Phoenix Rising, Leo’s Manzano’s running group ( 2 x olympian and 2012 1500 meter silver medalist, 9 NCAA titles at the University of Texas Austin). Leo’s coaching staff also includes- William Jabour (3 x duathlon world championship qualifier) and Trent Warren (former Oregon duck and retired professional runner). With Leo’s guidance we represented his program and ultimately put in the work that would get us recognized in the running world.
At first, it was just about the thrill of the races but as we started performing well we began catching the attention of companies like The Loop Running Company in Austin, TX. The Loop began supporting us which led to support from Nike. It felt unreal to see our hard work paying off and to realize that we were beginning to make a name for ourselves in the running community. Soon enough other teams from across the region in cross country began to notice us. Our little group that was once just a handful of runners with a shared passion was turning into something much bigger and we were all excited about what was to come.
The real turning point came when Nike and the Loop reached out to Leo Manzano and asked if our Phoenix Rising group would be interested in running at NXR (Nike Cross Regional Championship), a huge opportunity in the elite competitive runner’s world. Leo turned the question to us and asked if we wanted to take part. It wasn’t just an individual opportunity – it was a chance for the entire team to represent something bigger, something more significant.
There was no way we were going to turn down that offer. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day and we knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of chance. We all agreed and jumped at the opportunity, we didn’t have to think twice. Nike and the Loop had a sponsorship dinner for us to make introductions, take team photos, and give us our race gear for NXR. Having competed in the Regional Championships and State Championships in the two previous weeks we were able to bring our trophies. We were the 2024 HCAL Regional Champions and went on to become the 2024 HCAL State Champions with our teammate Bella Garcia winning the race and becoming the state champion. It was a great showing for our sponsors and they had incredible perks for us: free backpacks, high-performance shoes, and the best jerseys we had ever worn. This was truly about being part of something much more important. We were running for a purpose, under the banner of one of the biggest names in the sport and it felt like a dream come true.
As the program progressed we began to see the impact of our efforts, the recognition, the sponsors, the new teammates, and the incredible experiences at NXR all helped us grow as athletes and individuals. We are no longer just a group of runners training under Leo Manzano – we are becoming part of a larger community of athletes who are dedicated to pushing boundaries and supporting one another. What started as a few people running together for fun and development turned into a powerful team that people respect and that is something special.
Looking back on it all I’m proud of what we accomplished. It wasn’t about the early morning practices, winning the races, or the sponsor perks and gear – it was about the journey. The way we came together, challenged each other, and achieved things we never thought possible. Now as we continue to race, train, and build our network I know that this experience has set us up for even bigger things in the future. We’re not just runners anymore, we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
The Cardinal Post 