Pio Runs for Team, and Far Ahead of the Pack

From the recreational jogger to the world-class athlete, every runner knows that success can best be found when being pushed.

Be it a running partner, a coach or even a team, finding the strength to go on when the muscles are sore and the terrain is trying can be the difference between hitting stride and pulling off to the side.

For state champion Savannah Pio and the Mira Costa High Mustangs' girls cross country team, who are competing on Saturday at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., the fall season has seen the culmination of four years of hard work and countless miles.

And all the aches and pains have yielded the sweetest of rewards, team success.

"To me, it's more fun to have a team victory than a personal one. I love to win, but to see the look on my teammates' faces after a win, nothing is better," said Pio, who set a personal record with a time of 17:27 over a 5,000-meter course in Fresno in winning the state Division 2 cross country championship.

The state title is the latest in a stellar season for the Mira Costa senior – she won the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 championship, covering the 3-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut in 18:07; won the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 preliminaries as well as the Laguna Hills Invitational.

But it is Pio's desire to find team success that separates her from the pack in a sport that often is mislabeled as an individual one.

Creating a base

Pio, who smiles constantly and most brightly when speaking about her teammates and the Mustangs' program, did not take to the sport immediately.

It was not for lack of ability.

"I just didn't really like it at first, because I didn't know anyone and my friends were mostly in soccer," Pio said.

She ran on the varsity as a freshman and had success, but did not post the times she would consistently achieve later in her career. It was her bond with teammates and coaches that propelled her forward and fueled her desire to improve.

Pio was challenged every day in practice by teammate Aryn Foland and a deep Mustangs' program, coached by Renee Smith.

At the Nov. 27 state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno, Mira Costa had six runners place in the top half of the 192-runner field – Pio was first, Foland passed five runners in the final 200 yards to finish in fourth place, junior Kelli Sugimoto came in 12th, junior Vivian Cherrette was 21st, senior Shannon Hagedorn was 36th and junior Jenna Tong was 68th.

"There is something special about having a group of nine people, always together in the ups and downs and becoming close,'' Pio said. ''I have benefitted so much from having this group around me.

"Aryn and I have been so good for each other. On the days where I'm not at my best, she pushes me to keep fighting and when she's sluggish, I'm able to get her going.''

Building on Success

For four years, the Mustangs have been improving and the senior class led by captains Pio, Foland and Hagedorn came into the fall ready to shine.

At the Mt. SAC Invitational, the largest prep cross country meet in the country, Pio recorded a personal best with a time of 17:15 over the three-mile course, finishing fifth overall and first among Division 2 runners.

"That's a hard course,'' Coach Smith said. ''One wouldn't think that it would get you your best time, it's very hilly, but she did.''

The Mustangs and Pio were accomplishing great things, running well at the Stanford Invitational in September, winning a Bay League championship. Then there was the state meet, where Pio claimed the top spot to help the Mustangs to a second-place finish.

"This season, I was so happy for the team. It just felt unreal," Pio said.

Running to the next level

After graduation, Pio will not be trading in team colors or mascots. She has accepted a scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to run for Coach Kelly Strong while pursuing a degree in child development or kinesiology. The Mustangs – the Cal Poly version – also wear green and gold.

A number of schools from across the country were interested in Pio, who officially visited Boston College, but found the potential to be a part of a program on the rise too appealing.

"We have done a lot of things at Mira Costa the past few years that never had been done before. I just like the idea of making something memorable and not just being another face on a team that has always had success,'' Pio said. ''I want to be someone that helps do something that's never been done.''

Smith said she expects big things from Pio at the collegiate level. "Savannah works really hard. She's all about the team,'' Smith said. ''She brings the younger girls along with her and always raises the level of everyone on the team and does everything we ask of her.''

For now, college can wait.  With the Nike meet looming, Pio is ready to relish her last experience with her teammates in competition.

"I want to have fun. I know I will run well, but it's just such a fun weekend to spend with your friends in Portland,'' she said. ''We train to peak at state, but this meet will be the icing on the cake.''