Issue date: 5/15/04 Section: Sports

The wind blowing in her hair. Her feet feeling every rock and curve of the ground. Pushing her body to the maximum level.

Amanda Campbell, senior captain of the University of West Florida women's cross country and track team, has been running for over eight years.

Born Nov. 15, 1981 in Denver, Colo., Campbell started running when she was a freshman at Englewood High School in Englewood, Colo.

Sitting in a hard wooden chair in the communication arts building, Campbell's long jeweled earrings and short brown-blonde hair glistens as the rays of sun beam in through the large glass windows.

Her white tank top, white flip flips, stonewashed jeans and pinkish peach scarf she uses as a belt show her unique, yet simple style.

She attended the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs for the first two years in college and transferred to UWF in 2002.

"I wasn't happy with the way things were going with that team and I didn't feel like I was an important part of the team," Campbell said about leaving UC. "Their coaching style wasn't good for me."

As a freshman at UC, she qualified for the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II National tournament.

In her first season at UWF, she posted her cross-country 5K run time at 19:46.8 at the Gulf South Conference championship and posted her top 6K run at 25:04.9 at the regional tournament.

During the 2002-2003 seasons, Campbell was the top finisher in four meets. One came during the GSC championship and another came during the NCAA Division II South Regional tournament.

She has known since high school that she wanted to major in psychology in college.

"I took a regular psychology class when I was in high school and I just loved it," she said. "I honestly can't see my self doing anything but that as my life long career."

After graduating from UWF, Campbell plans to attend graduate school at Argosy University in Richmond, Cal.

Campbell has also been on the GSC Academic Honor Roll for the past two seasons.

Teammate Naomi Evangelista said there are two sides to Campbell, the sweet and giggly side and the serious game-day side.

"I've noticed that before a race, she continues to share her big smiles with us," Evangelista said. "Once the gun goes off, she's looking to win."

Campbell has helped the team by being encouraging, a friend and by doing her best to win during the races Evangelista said.

Campbell runs cross-country in the fall and continues through track in the spring. During track competitions, she competes in the open 3,000 races and the steeplechase.

"The steeplechase is huge barriers and you jump over them," Campbell said. "You run through the course and in the end you jump into the water pit. It's definitely challenging."

Campbell stays in shape by watching what she eats and getting the proper amount of sleep, especially before a race.

During the season, she practices by alternating long distance running and speed running. In the off-season, she does a lot of long distance running and weight trains her upper body.

"I focus more on my upper body because my lower body gets so much work and is used up by the end of the season," Campbell said.

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