Susy Mesa, on far left, runs in a track meet for Sparks High, during her junior year. This year's season was cut short as schools stay closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Provided by Susy Meza)

Susy's story: This is the second series of stories following Sparks High School senior Susy Meza. Susy, 17, will graduate in June. She is the student body president, played sports and was on the prom committee. Sheplans to study neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall. The next few months of high school weresupposed to be the culmination of all her hard work, and the chance to beat her own record in the 300 meter hurdles before life was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Susy Meza keeps a picture of a post it note on herphone.

On it she had written oneof her senior year goals.

"I'm going to beat my personal record in hurdles," she said.

Story 1: Susy Mesa talks about missing her senior prom.

Susy, 17, runs track for Sparks High School. It's just one of the three sports Suzyhas done in high school. She was team captain this year for two, including the school's tennis team and cheerleading squad.

But beating the one-minute mark in the 300 meter hurdles was at the top of her high school bucket list.

Susy Meza, center, leads a chant. The high school senior's won't finish her last season of sports as schools remain closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Provided by Susy Meza)

And as a senior, she would lead the team in stretches before practice every day after school.

Instead, spring sports are canceled in Nevadaand across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm not really competitive but I wanted to grow and get better," Susy said of a senior year of missed track meets. "A lot of people run it faster than I do so I just wanted to do better for myself."

She will study neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall and wants to be a doctor.

This track season was likely the last time she would do competitive sports.

Susy Mesa plays tennis for Sparks High. Susy, 17, played three sports for Sparks High but the track season was cut short amid the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Provided by Susy Mesa)

And she would be awarded the Golden Spike, a cord she could wear over her graduation gown to honor her for playing three sportsfor all four years of high school.

She would have been given the honor at thehigh school's now-canceled spring awards banquet.

She would have been the only one in hersenior class of more than 300 to get the honor this year.

"I don't know what happens now," she said. "I just know I have loved hurdles. It's about perseverance."

Susy Mesa, second from left, poses with her cheer team. Susy, 17, was the captain of the cheer, tennis and track team her senior year, now cut short, at Sparks High.(Photo: PRovided by Susy Mesa)

Siobhan McAndrew tells stories about the people of Northern Nevada and covers education in Washoe County. Read her journalism right here. Consider supporting her work by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal.

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Class of 2020, COVID-19 and sports: Track season ends before Susy Meza beats her own best time - Reno Gazette Journal