Four Schools in Four Years Not a Problem for Sonora Track Star Harris

SONORA, TX -- Changing schools can be hard for any teenager, let alone four new schools in as many years.

Yet, that hasn’t stopped Sonora senior Camille Harris from setting tracks ablaze in the final year of her prep career.

“It’s been pretty difficult going through different coaches and teammates,” the University of Houston signee said. “But when it all comes down to it, you’re still just running and working out the same every single day. So I try to keep a positive mindset and just keep pushing through.”

“She’s one of the hardest workers we have,” Sonora head coach Don Brown said. “She’s been trained by her father. She’s stepped in and led by example.”

That mindset has helped Harris reach state all four years in cross country and the last two in track. Her father has also helped provide a certain level of consistency in her workout regimen whether it was at Hamshire-Fannett, Nueces Canyon or Rocksprings before Sonora.

The state meet hopeful has taken bits and pieces of training from each coach she’s worked with to make it to the state track meet in her last two years with dreams of a third consecutive appearance. Harris won the mile run and finished second in the 800-meter run at the San Angelo Relays back in March.

“Definitely the things my dad has taught me has helped me a lot incorporating the things I learned from different coaches,” Harris said. “It kinda brings it all together and works really well.”

The Space City-bound senior hasn’t missed a step either, acting as a social chameleon to fit into her new surroundings.

“I don’t think she’s skipped a beat,” Brown said. “This is her fourth school in four years, so she has that ability to adjust and get to know kids … She fits right in with everybody else.”

That has helped Harris keep her sights on Austin and the state track meet, where she’s gone the last two years. She ran personal bests in the 800-meter and mile runs last year to claim gold.

After getting to state the last two years in track and all four years in cross country, Harris doesn’t want to miss the level of competition she’d get at the state meet.

“It’s really fun competing at the state level,” Harris said. “That’s the ultimate goal, then to win and medal is the second goal. It’s just a great atmosphere.”

“You know what a kid like this has gone through for four years. You know the work she’s put in each and every day, year after year,” Brown said. “You just wanna see that student benefit from all that hard work … We feel strongly that she’s gonna succeed at the district level and advance to area, regionals and possibly state.”

Her personal record time of 2 minutes, 20.32 seconds in the 800 while at Rocksprings last year is something Harris continues to aim for.

“It’s definitely a motivating factor,” Harris said. “I wanna compete at my best and I wanna PR in all the events I do.”

Having an athlete of Division I caliber like Harris has significant impact on a program like Sonora, even if it is for just one year.

“She’s a great role model to all these young kids,” Brown said. “They can see the work she puts in during a track workout. A lot of my younger distance runners are running with her. So, they get to experience what she does each and every day. That talent and that work ethic can’t be replaced by anything else.”

With her college future in writing, Harris can keep her focus on the track. That has been somewhat relieving in her final year.

“Since it’s my last year and I know where I’m going and I don’t have to worry about looking for colleges or coaches scouting me, I think I can relax a little and have more fun to take it to state,” Harris said.

But Harris knows the competition will be a little more stiff at class 3A compared to class 1A, where she ran the last two years. She feels that will help her push for another state appearance.

“It’s definitely jumped up,” Harris said. “But I think in the long run, it’ll help me run a lot faster since I’ll have more people pushing me to do better. I think I’m gonna run better.”

Harris and the Lady Broncos are slated to compete at the District 4-3A meet in Ballinger on Friday.