For the past two years Andrea DeSimone has been the top runner for the Wayne State women’s cross country team and has been a key part of the track and field’s distance unit.

DeSimone, who is from Plattsmouth, Neb., and majors in special education, has also been successful in the classroom.

She has earned Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) All-Academic honors multiple years in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. But running remains the highlight of her day.

“Running is a good way to meditate for me,” DeSimone said. “It’s the highlight of my day. It’s just you and the track or the road. You are always making accomplishments and always improving.”

DeSimone started running track in seventh grade and cross country when she was a sophomore.

“My favorite running memory would be my senior year in high school when we were the state runner-up,” DeSimone said. “It was the first time our school had been to state in a long time and it was really cool. I medaled in every meet that year.”

DeSimone has continued to run competitively at Wayne State. Along with cross country, she has competed in the 4×800 meter relay, 3,000 meter, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter in track and field. But the 5,000 and 10,000 meter distances remain her specialty.

Her career best times in track are 19:20 in the 5,000 meter and 40:22 in the 10,000 meter. In cross country her career best times are 19:21 in the 5k and 25:15 in the 6k.

As a junior she was voted as the “Wildcat to Watch” by other NSIC coaches, who saw her as the most impactful runner on the team.

“Andrea is a great leader,” teammate Jamie Larson said. “She always makes sure us freshmen know what we’re doing, and she is very supportive.”

Along with cross country and track and field, DeSimone has enjoyed the rest of her time here at Wayne State.

“Meeting people and making friends are what I have enjoyed the most,” DeSimone said.

“I’m really happy I chose Wayne State. I give it a ten out of ten and highly recommend it.”