By Seojin Ha, CMN editor

Most high school students spend their weekends relaxing, hanging out, or finishing homework. Instead, Sunset High School’s Naomi Cesar is training to be the next running queen.

Naomi’s love for running started in her household. Through sports, her family has long represented their family’s Filipino culture. “Both my parents ran in college, and my dad also ran for the Philippines National Track Team. My siblings were also doing sports.” Her sister, Malea Cesar, is currently on the Philippine Women’s National Soccer Team, and her brother, Avery Cesar, runs track and field at Western Colorado University. “Since my family is so deeply rooted in athletics, running for the school team felt like a natural step when I came to Sunset.”

As an up-and-coming track star, Naomi’s training is very intense. “Compared to the average runner who just runs recreationally, an athlete who competes regularly has to train more often and at different intensities.” She trains both inside, outside, and on her school track during weekends, vacations, and after school. Based on the day’s workout, she will do a combination of runs at an easy, medium, or hard pace. Even after these long training sessions, she realizes the importance of balancing her academic and athletic life. “I often have to sacrifice going out with friends just to finish schoolwork. If I want to run, I have to squeeze in extra hours of studying late at night.” 

Although this is quite a rigorous schedule, her strong dedication and passion for running is paying off. Through her father’s connection with the Philippines National Track Team, she was invited to run at the 2025 Asian U18 Championships in Saudi Arabia. “I remember I was just shocked by the news. I was going across the world to run for a little over two minutes, and I just felt very proud to run for my culture.” This invitation led to a huge achievement in her running career, winning third place in the 800 meter event and the team’s second ever medal in the competition’s history.

Looking ahead, Naomi hopes to continue running in college and possibly beyond. “If everything goes right, I’d love to compete professionally,” she said. Her advice to younger runners? “Show your dedication and come to practice every day because if you work hard, you can achieve. And always remember to have fun!”