LFHS alumna Alexandra Fontana, who graduated in 2022, is proving that hard work and determination can lead to extraordinary achievements. Now a sophomore at the University of Michigan, Fontana recently completed her first ever marathon– the Chicago Marathon – where she crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 3:22:33, averaging a little under 7 minutes and 45 seconds per mile. This remarkable performance earned her a spot in next year’s Boston Marathon which is a huge milestone for any runner.

Fontana was an outstanding athlete during her time at LFHS, excelling on both the Varsity Cross Country team and the Varsity Soccer team. Her dedication to not only staying fit after going to college, but going far beyond the level that she was at in high school, has set her apart from other runners.

“Her dedication and persistence are qualities that I have always admired throughout the past ten years I’ve known her,” said Steve Clegg, who coached Fontana from sixth to 12th grade. “Qualifying for the Boston Marathon in itself is a very big deal, but doing so in her first marathon is an amazing accomplishment.”

Throughout her life, Fontana’s dedication to being the best in every aspect of her life has allowed her to accomplish extraordinary things. She has found a perfect balance between her academics, athletics and her social life.

“In high school, I felt like Coach Clegg instilled a lot of discipline into the Varsity team. There was always the expectation for us to perform well. I think that discipline has been a very positive take away from high school,” said Fontana.

When the day of the Chicago Marathon arrived, Fontana was excited and nervous. The atmosphere was electric, filled with more than 1 million spectators and 50,000 of runners.

“Just being on the start line was such a surreal moment,” said Fontana. “Looking around and seeing the 50,000 other runners that were going to accomplish such an amazing thing was very inspirational.”

As she navigated the course, Fontana faced both physical and mental challenges.

“I dealt with a few difficulties, such as an on-going knee injury,” she said. “Near mile 20, it started to hurt really bad. During the last 10 kilometers, I really had to dig deep and feed off of the crowd’s energy all the way up to the finish line.”

Despite facing countless struggles, Fontana’s strong mentality allowed her to continue running.

“I did hit a wall near the end, but I just remembered all the hot days of training, the long workouts and the countless hours and miles I put into it. I knew that I just needed to finish,” said Fontana. “One thing I’ve learned is that I can’t control what happens on race day so, when things do go south, I just have to roll with it and stay determined to finish.”

Kate Mccann, a junior at LFHS who ran alongside Fontana during her senior year and has grown close to her since, expressed pride in her friend’s accomplishments.

“Alexandra’s drive and determination are really motivating for everyone around her. I have never seen someone who works as hard as she does while also maintaining balance in her academic and social life,” said Mccann.

Looking ahead to her preparation for the Boston Marathon next fall, Fontana has been practicing her mindset.

“I don’t have any specific time goal because I really want to go into the event without any pressure or expectations. I want to really take in the race, the sites and the energy of Boston,” said Fontana.

With a successful marathon debut behind her, she aims to use what she learned running the Chicago Marathon to do even better in the future.

“A big lesson I learned is that it’s okay to take rest days. Although I don’t enjoy taking days off, I learned that it’s a good thing and can really improve one’s performance,” said Fontana.

This story was originally published on The Forest Scout on November 11, 2024.