The Shark: TWCA's Calamani Growing In Talent; Voice

ZOE CALAMANI’S RUNNING CAREER DATES WAY BACK TO THE SECOND GRADE. SURE, SHE COULD COLOR IN THE LINES, AND CUT AND PASTE, BUT IT WAS RUNNING THAT SET HER APART.

“Remember the game Sharks and Minnows?” she laughed. “I could dominate. That is when I realized I could run.”

In elementary school and junior high, she just kept running.

“I was terrible in sports with a ball or any hand-eye coordination sports,” she said. “The kids that didn’t have that skill set went straight to cross country. That’s how I ended up here.”

Over time, she has turned into one of the state’s most lethal sharks on the running scene.

“Zoe is pretty quiet by nature,” coach Tom Earle said. “She was a co-captain as a sophomore and became more of a leader, but now she has found her voice.”

Calamani is now the star of one of the most recognizable running brands in TAPPS.

“When I was a freshman, I was terrified,” she laughed. “My teammates had to tell me that it was okay to pass a senior teammate. I didn’t know what to do. My confidence has been building over time.

“As a junior, I did well but was just running comfortable. I wasn’t really pushing myself. Now, I’m doing the little things to get better. I’m in the weight room more and am focused on my sleep, which is pretty important.”

And to think that cross country is not even Calamani’s best sport.

“I’m really trying to run track in college,” the 400 and 800-meter star said. “I run cross country to build my endurance for the track season. That’s really my passion.”

So, what balances the junior when she’s not training, doing homework or watching her favorite show – Criminal Minds?

“I’m a pianist,” she said. “I’ve been doing it before I started running. I’m trained in classical piano. It keeps me balanced and focused. I really do it for myself and for volunteer work. I might play at an assistant living facility or just at my house. It’s really important to me.”