As a distance runner, Stephanie Bossong knows a thing or two about time management. Knowledge like that helps the Fluvanna County senior both on the track, and in the classroom.

"Your first cross country race you usually don't know how to pace yourself," Bossong explained. "Same with harder level classes. You don't know how to pace yourself until you get into it and then you learn. You mess up a few times and then you fix your mistakes."

Bossong hasn't been making many mistakes lately---on or off the track. The senior carries a 3.5 GPA and is involved in various clubs at Fluvanna.

She also runs cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and was captain of the Fluco girls cross country team the last two seasons. According to her coach, Bossong has come a long way from where she started.

"And you can just see the improvement over the years. She didn't come out a natural runner. She's worked hard to where she's gotten," Fluvanna girls coach Rose Brogan said.

Brogan knows firsthand just how much hard work Bossong puts into the classroom. Brogan was Bossong's chemistry teacher last year and has her in physics class, this year.

"She's a hard worker. She makes sure she has everything done. She's very conscientious."

Bossong says she's still evaluating her college choices, but would love to attend Virginia Tech. Until then, she'll use running as a balance to her studies.

"It's nice just to have a break from all the schoolwork," she said. "I''m not really sure what else I would do if I just went home after school. So it's nice just to have something to get away to."