Courtesy: Hillsdale Athletic Department

According to her coach, sophomore Allison Kuzma is on pace to make school history.

“I think she will walk out as one of the most, if not the most decorated, long-distance runners here at Hillsdale,” said head cross country coach R. P. White.

Mere weeks into her second year at Hillsdale, Kuzma won her first meet of the season, the Hillsdale Cross Country Invite, at Hayden Park on Sept. 5. Kuzma finished the 5K race in 18.20.3 with a 50 second lead.

“The goal was to start pretty conservative,” Kuzma said. “My goal was to lead the team through a little bit of a slower mile, and then finish strong. So I was able to execute that pretty well.”

At the Michigan State University invitational Sept. 12, Kuzma finished 18th individually with a PR of 21:02.3, the fastest time by Hillsdale women’s cross country since 2023.  

According to one of Kuzma’s mentors on the team, senior Anna Roberts, Kuzma doesn’t just excel individually. She contributes greatly to team culture.

“From the start, she’s changed our program for the better,” Roberts said. “She’s been a really good example for all the girls of how to balance being a top-level athlete with doing school and social things and pouring into others and taking care of herself and making time for her faith.”

Roberts calls Kuzma one of the most humble people she has ever met. Roberts said a defining example of Kuzma as a teammate is what Kuzma does after a race.

“Immediately after she finishes — even a couple of weeks ago at Hayden, when she won the race — she turns around and starts cheering on her teammates as they’re finishing, asking them how their race went, never mentioning that she had just won,” Roberts said.

It’s a common experience, Roberts said, for Kuzma’s friends and teammates to have to ask her about her accomplishments to get her to mention them. 

“She’s proud of herself and proud of her accomplishments,” Roberts said. “But she’s really good at not making everything about her.”

Kuzma says she appreciates the team aspect of her sport. 

“At the end of the day, you’re the one running, but there is so much more of a team aspect to cross country than you think,” Kuzma said. “Knowing that your teammates care a lot about a meet helps push you internally — knowing that you are all working together for the same goal.”

It was the team aspect that drew Kuzma to Hillsdale in the first place. Though Kuzma first considered a larger school with a Division I program, her mom recommended Hillsdale as a place that aligned with their family’s values. When Kuzma visited bigger schools, she said she felt lost. 

“As soon as I walked onto Hillsdale’s campus, I felt a lot of peace about it,” Kuzma said. “It was God speaking to me and letting me know this was my place.”

On her visit, Kuzma met Roberts for the first time. 

“She showed me that running is something you work hard and do, but it’s also not who you are,” Kuzma said. “Obviously, we love our sport, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming like I saw in the other schools I visited.” 

According to Kuzma, she can see the fruits of her sport in everyday life. 

“The ability to push my body and overcome all that suffering has allowed me to be more confident in the classroom and in meeting people,” Kuzma said. 

Kuzma said she hopes to make nationals this year, especially as a team. 

“We have really good freshmen — very talented athletes, but also they mesh so dynamically with the team culture,” Kuzma said. “We’re just so much closer this year. Individually, I hope to make all-American for cross country.”

White said he has high hopes for Kuzma’s sophomore season and career at Hillsdale.

“She’s extremely humble, and I think as long as she continues to acknowledge and actualize her potential, she will do tremendous things,” White said.