ABOUT AMANDA

Age: 18

School: Cleveland

Birthplace: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Parents: Francisco and Jessica

Sibling: Jared, 22

Next: Mayoral signed to run cross country and track for Oklahoma State, which she chose over New Mexico and Texas A&M. She said she will not be competing in next weekend’s Great Southwest meet at UNM, as she prefers to rest up before taking on the stifling heat and humidity of central Oklahoma. She has not decided on a major.

Recap: Mayoral won 10 gold medals at New Mexico state meets: three in cross country, three 3,200-meter titles, a pair of 1,600-meter crowns, one 800-meter victory and she also was part of a winning medley relay in 2017. But the highlight of her career was a triumphant run at the Nike Southwest Regional Cross Country Championships in Arizona last November.

Lesson learned: Even when Mayoral didn’t have her ‘A’ game, she realized it was necessary to push through. “Having the previous feeling of being accomplished is what pushed me to get past the finish line in a race where I didn’t feel good,” she said.

They’ll need plenty of Face Time: While Amanda heads off to Stillwater, Okla., her father will be in south Florida where he’ll be stationed for the next year as a pilot with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection department. Jessica will remain here in New Mexico with Jared, who recently finished course work in Lubbock and will graduate from Texas Tech in August after completing some online courses.

Did you know? Mayoral is, shall we say … well, let her say it. “I’m so indecisive about everything,” she said, smiling. “It’s kind of funny.”