Soccer Runs

When it comes soccer, sometimes having a good kick isn’t enough to be great player.  You have to know how to do it all, such as combine techniques from other sports into your plays on the field, like knowing how to run without end.

That’s exactly what Cadiz, Kentucky, Trigg County High School, LaNita Ephriam, a senior Los Angeles, CA  native does. She runs and never stops until she reaches her goal, and even then she keeps going.

“It’s hard to get people to acknowledge that soccer is more that just kicking the ball mindlessly,” Hughes said. “We do a lot out there than just dribble… we run our butts off for 90 minutes or more nonstop.”

Ephriam is currently a 2012 All-State High School Gold Medalist in the 400m dash, 4 x 400m relay, 200m dash, 8 x 200m relay, and holds silver titles in High Jump.  She also is a well traveled and All-State Soccer gold medalist.

Though soccer is her favorite sport, track and field set the foundation for her high achievements in the game.

“Track and field definitely made me a better soccer player,” Ephriam said. “I am glad that  I have build up my endurance and strength through running. Now that I have my running rhythm covered, I can concentrate on developing and mastering my skills and techniques with the soccer ball.”

Ephriam said that she knew that being good at track and field would give her an advantage when playing other sports.

“If you know how to run really fast, especially for long periods of time… you can easily  learn how to kick, dribble, throw, and catch, etc , at  the same time,” said Ephriam. “ I’ve received a lot of medals in volleyball, basketball, tennis, and soccer because of my track and field background. I know that being able to run fast, has given me an advantage. “

Ephriam’s  mother,  Patrice Ephraim, is a former collegiate track runner  put her in track and field when she was two years old, and since then she has been running.

Ephriam said, “ Even though practices are long and hard, I am glad that my mom put me in track and field first. She always told me that, ‘Building up your endurance as an athlete is key.’ I’ve never forgotten that. So each day, I make sure that my endurance is up and then practice on specific techniques, depending on what sport I am playing.

Ephraim is currently a heptathlete, which means she is involved in seven events for her high school’s track team.

"My events are, the 100m dash, 200m dash, long jump, high jump, 400m dash, 4x400m relay, 8x200m relay,” she said.

However, soccer is her number on sport of choice.

Ephriam said, “ I love, appreciate, and try to play all sports. That’s why soccer is my number one sport. The game mixes techniques from various sports such as,  basketball,  football, and running. Though track and field is my foundation, I definitely want to play soccer in college. However, both sports have taught me patience, endurance, strength, teamwork, and how to remain humble. These traits I will hold for the rest of my life”

Fellow teammates believe Ephriam is a strong leader whose immense athletic capabilities are always forceful.

Ephriam’s soccer teammate Jennifer Langston said, "Her great athletic abilities always show on the soccer field. She never stops running until we score."


"She always leads by example through her hard work and success," said Daniel Jennings, a Trigg County High School track teammate”

“She is an amazing athlete,” said  Ephriam’s former track and field coach, Cathy Wilkerson. “In comparison to most athletes, she is on a whole other level, and will continue to go higher.”

"LaNita is the strongest athlete that I know," said  Ephriam former soccer Richard Johnson. “The older she gets, the more her skills are defined. She will be a force to be reckoned with when she gets into NCAA play for college.”

Ephriam currently  holds a 3.6 GPA, runs the 400m dash in 58 secs and is an up and coming sought after  “Sweeper”  in the sport of soccer.

Despite her love for sports, Ephriam acknowledges being a student athlete can be very demanding.

"It is really hard to be a student and an athlete," Ephriam said. "It's not as hard for me now because I’m in high school but I’m sure it will be very hard when I’m in college. I’m sure there will be some point when all of my college buddies will be partying while I’m in my dorm room studying and preparing for a game. “

"Early in the mornings I wake up and run. Then I go to school. After school I go to track and/or soccer practice. Then I come home, eat dinner, do homework, and go to sleep to do it all over again in the morning.” she said.” "There are times when I want just to pass out because of the hard workout that I went through."

Ephriam is, 17yrs old.  is in her senior year of high school and is currently being recruited by various universities. She knows that she wants to attend an out-of-state college, but her family cannot afford the expenses to pay for her to do so. Therefore she has to get a scholarship to attend.

“I wasn’t birthed into riches,” said Ephriam. “However, my mother gave me the tools to succeed. She told me to keep my grades up and put me on a track told me to run…”

“Though we don’t have the money for out-of-state schools,” she said. “I have the grades, strength, and determination to pave my own way. I plan on getting a scholarship for my academics and/or athleticism.  Come what may… I am ready to make my mark in this world.”

Ephriam graduates from high school May 2013.