LDS Runner Named Beacon Journal Fall Female Athlete of the Year (Field's state champ? She's out of this world)
Akron OH Beacon-Journal 15Dec99 S2
By David Lee Morgan Jr.: Beacon Journal staff writer

Emily Mars, Division II cross country State Championship runner from Field's High School, was named 1999 Beacon Journal Fall Female Athlete of the Year. "What Emily has accomplished has been outstanding," said Field's coach Bill Huntington. "She's worked so hard every year, and she's become a role model for so many of her teammates and peers. She's a very caring, loving and giving person."

Emily begins her days by getting up every morning at 5:l0 a.m. to make it to early morning scripture study by 6 a.m. where she meets with other seminary students her age. Emily considers her faith to be very important to her. She idolizes her older brother, Dave, who also was a cross country runner. Dave is on a mission in Brazil for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Dave was running cross country before I even knew what cross country was," Mars said. "I was into soccer and I played all through elementary school until seventh grade. I had to kind of choose between the two and Dave influenced me to stay with cross country. I love him a lot."

There is plenty of love to go around the Mars household. Mom and Dad, 10 brothers and sisters and eight nieces and nephews. " I wouldn't change any of this for the world," she said. "With 10 kids in the family, you learn to go for yourself," she joked. "I also learned to be creative and I guess that's why I started dying my hair. You have to stick out somehow."

Emily has her heart set on running for Brigham Young University after graduation. If she isn't able to, another Division I school will do. She's that talented. "Going off to college will be hard because we're such a close family and they'll always be with me," said Mars. "And I'm going to miss my younger brothers and sisters a lot because we do so many things together. I love being with my family."

"I'm just so proud of her and all that she does in her life," said mom, Shirley. "She's always thinking and doing for others before she does for herself. I know this may sound funny, but I'm honored to be her mom. She's a great person."