Soft-spoken Wicks ready to make run at state title

Adam Candee

Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.

A slight giggle here, a pick at the fingers there, and it quickly becomes obvious that the spotlight is not Natasha Wicks' preferred location.

Somewhat nervously answering questions about her enormous success as one of the best cross country athletes in the city, the slight Cimarron-Memorial senior would certainly like to be running right now -- away from the attention that comes with winning the Sunset Regional in back-to-back years and being a favorite in Saturday's 4A state meet in Boulder City.

"I don't like to talk about myself," Wicks said.

Wicks is content to let her running do the necessary communication. In winning the Sunset meet last weekend, Wicks sent a message by posting a time of 18 minutes, 44 seconds to blow away the field by a stunning 42 seconds. Her win also helped the Cimarron team qualify for the state meet.

"She's definitely a motivator for the other girls," Cimarron coach Tim Jeffries said. "They're obviously going to want to raise their level of commitment as well."

Jeffries credits Wicks' commitment throughout the year for her near-undefeated season, saying her dedication to weight training, healthy diet and extra running is now paying off with results. Wicks now hopes that commitment pays off literally, as her opportunity to continue her education likely rests on whether or not she can catch the eye of college coaches.

"The only way I'm going to be able to (afford to) go is on a full-ride scholarship," Wicks said, adding that she has attracted interest from a handful of schools.

A state title would certainly look great on Wicks' resume, but she is likely to face stiff competition from Reno's Collier Lawrence, Carson's Shana Sparks, Bishop Gorman's Christa Avena and Basic's Sam Serrano, among others.

"It's going to be close," Wicks said. "It's going to be a hard race, I know."

Jeffries believes his top runner stands a great chance to take the state crown.

"She's reaching her potential because she has worked so hard," Jeffries said. "She is self-motivated. She is motivated as a runner and as a person."

Wicks' only defeat this season came in the Las Vegas Invitational. She possesses a quality that separates great runners from good ones -- the ability to break away from competitors without a longer stride or physical strain. According to Wicks, it just somehow happens.

"I don't even remember speeding up or anything," Wicks said.

The humility, however unusual, is genuine. Wicks worries as much about being a good person with her teammates as she does about winning races.

"I'm really proud of my girls," Wicks said. "I'm really thankful for the team that I have."

Also a strong student, Wicks competes in track in the spring and tries to keep her running in focus.

"Having a balance in everything is really important," Wicks said.

That balance extends into all phases of life for Wicks, who was home-schooled through her freshman year of high school. She enjoys the mountains and the outdoors, and feels fortunate that her sport plays into her interests.

"I'd prefer having two cross-country seasons," Wicks said. "I like the hills, the different settings, the different places you can go."

She hopes those different places include a state title and a college scholarship very soon.