When Anja Fisher hangs up her Norman North cross country uniform later this fall, it may be her last run in green and white, but it won’t be the last time she hits the course.
“My motivation is longevity,” Fisher said. “Being able to run and exercise until I’m 80 years old with grandkids is truly such an incredible motivator! I want to be challenging myself constantly because health is so important to me.”
Fisher, who is also a talented performer and once played Belle in “Beauty in the Beast,” has been racing for six years.
“I was introduced to running by some friends in Noble when I went there. I just ended up getting a lot of encouragement and loving the atmosphere,” Fisher said. “I totally fell in love when I got my first medal at my first meet! I just felt so accomplished, and l wanted to keep chasing that feeling.”
Fisher is also exclusively enrolled in concurrent classes at the University of Oklahoma this semester. She was previously a member of Norman North pom. She enjoys the camaraderie of both the boys and girls cross country programs at North. Recently, she and her teammates climbed a steep hill during a tour at the University of Arkansas — most of them wearing Birkenstocks.
“It was hilarious and a fun team building activity,” Fisher said. “There was absolutely no reason for us to be climbing that hill. We just wanted to be silly, and I think that’s kind of a philosophy that can be applied to the entirety of cross country.”
One thing everybody must know about Anja: She is a devout believer and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After high school, she plans to attend Southern Virginia University for a year before serving an 18-month mission.
“I also would, at some point, love to study in Sweden,” Fisher said. “I’m a dual citizen and speak fluently and read and write.”
But, before she gets that far, she has unfinished business on the trails.
“My goal my senior year is to keep my passion towards running strong and to PR,” Fisher said. “I’m super passionate about longevity, and I feel as though competitive running can make you dread running, so my main goal is to keep enjoying myself and strengthening my bond to the sport.”
