TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Baylee Espinosa of Lewisburg competes in the 3,200 relay last week at the Lock Haven High School Classic.

Baylee Espinosa is always positive and smiling when she finishes events. At the Lock Haven High School Classic at Lock Haven last Friday, she ran a time of 2:14.86 to win the 800, just beating out Hughesville’s Grace Fortin by just 0.08 seconds in a great race down to the wire.

Before the podium medals were awarded, Espinosa was laughing and talking with the other top-3 finishers while holding a small plush she got from teammates as a birthday present.

During a media interview after the medals, Espinosa stopped mid-response to cheer on runners in the boys 800 race, not specifically Lewisburg competitors, but runners in general before resuming the interview.

That’s the type of person Espinosa is, she’s competitive, but she’s always supporting others and has a positive mindset. If you needed further proof of that, consider the fact Espinosa wasn’t feeling 100% on Friday either, but put her sickness aside to help the team.

In her own words, she put her selfishness and ego aside.

“I was nervous, I’m having some health issues with low iron and a cold at the same time. It all happens at once. Honestly, on the bus ride I was like ‘I feel like I’m going to puke.’ It felt so bad,” Espinosa said. “I put my selfishness and ego aside and said I have to do this for the team and see how it’ll work out and tried not to focus on times. I was running, but more like how it’s going to add up in the end.”

“It was cool in the relay to try to get that sub 9.40, but I didn’t think we’d get to do that,” the Green Dragon continued. “Everyone got me to the point I could finish really well for us.”

Coming off the bus feeling sick and competing in the 3,200 relay the second event of the day? That’s what Espinosa does for her team. She puts the Green Dragons first, not herself.

That 3,200 relay team Espinosa was on with Annika Shields, Claire Driver and Lauren Schwarts ran a time of 9:40.52 and were behind only Altoona, which ran a 9:36.79 to in. The Green Dragons beat out Hugehsville (9:49.97) who took third and Warrior Run (9:51.89) who finished fourth.

Espinsa also ran as part of the 1,600 relay on Friday with Katherine Batkowski, Shields and Madison Moyers as the foursome ran a 4:07.38 to take home seventh. Altoona broke the meet record to win in 3:56.03.

When asked about winning the 800, Espinosa noted that it was nice, but she’s happier with the progress she’s made to be in that position to win. And, more importantly, the ability to be able to run track in a sport she loves.

It isn’t lost on her or something she takes for granted.

“The win was great, but the progress I’ve made to be put into a spot where I didn’t expect to make progress today was really cool. I love this meet. This track is so beautiful. … Our theme this year is it’s all fun and games. That’s a big part of how I approached this race,” Espinosa said. “I get to choose to do this, you know what I mean? There are wars going on all around the world, they don’t get a choice to choose their challenges; they live with it.

“Yeah, it’s going to be hard and challenging, but I got to choose. I have autonomy and the privilege to choose my own challenges. That’s something I took in today,” Espinosa said. “Yeah, it’ll be hard, maybe I don’t always want to do it, but it brings me and my teammates joy.”

Espinosa celebrated her 18th birthday with an 800 win and two solid relay performances. All while feeling slightly under the weather as well. But that gratefulness to be able to compete is what meant the most for the Green Dragon on her birthday competing.

“It happens to be my birthday, which is really cool, but I think it’s been great to have that perspective that I’m grateful to be able to do this with so many cool people and meet so many cool people,” Espinosa said. “That’s what I think it meant to do all of that on this day.”