Sophie Bair didn't need a campus tour to know Santa Clara was the right fit — she just needed to set foot on the grass. "When I stepped onto campus, the vibes felt right," she said. "I loved the Spanish colonial architecture, the climate, the surrounding town, and even watching the squirrels run around."

That first visit was all she needed to picture her next chapter. The atmosphere, the people, and the program aligned with everything she wanted as she prepared to take the next step in her running career.

Finding Her Place at Santa Clara
Meeting the coaches sealed her decision. "When I met Coach Pete (Cushman), I was a little intimidated at first, but then I realized he was very serious and also prioritized fun and team culture," Bair said. "I got to see him and Coach Luisa (Westley) interact with the team, and I could see the relationships they had formed."

She felt the team's spirit on her very first run with them. "We took a route through the surrounding neighborhoods, and I spent the whole time talking to the girls. I immediately felt so welcomed," she said. That sense of belonging made the choice easy.

A New Chapter and New Challenges
As she prepares for her first season, Bair is eager for everything that comes with college life. "I'm really excited to take some cool classes and learn more about things I'm interested in instead of the one-path high school curriculum," she said. "I'm also excited to meet new friends and hear about how they grew up."

On the course, she's looking forward to new experiences. "I'm excited to learn all the new routes we get to run and, for the first time, put on the Santa Clara kit and race," she said. "Running 6 km in college is exciting because you don't have anything to compare it to since in high school we did 5 km."

Roots in the Mountains
Growing up in Santa Fe, N.M., Bair was surrounded by an active lifestyle. "My family is really active — I grew up watching my parents compete in triathlons and marathons as well as trail and bike races," she said. "I grew up in the mountains and would join my mom on trail runs."

Even as a kid, she gravitated toward running. "A close family friend had a kids' triathlon club, which I joined, but I always felt a pull to just the running part," she said. By eighth grade, she was already competing with the varsity cross country and track team.

Mentors Who Shaped Her
Bair credits much of her growth to longtime family friends and mentors Matt and Liz. "Matt is all data and science and loves crafting workouts and crunching numbers on the ideal paces," she said. "Liz reminds us to have fun and foster the love for the sport. After races she always asks how you feel — not how the race went, but how you actually feel."

That balance of discipline and joy kept running meaningful. "Both of them still run today and show me how lifelong the sport can be," she said.

Moments That Matter
One memory stands above the rest: the New Mexico state cross country championship. "My team was going for our third straight title, and I was a contender for the individual title," Bair said. "Around mile one I put in a big surge and ran far ahead of the pack. The course loops around and faces the huge mountains surrounding Albuquerque. Looking up at the mountains and then down onto the course where I could see some of my teammates, I felt a huge sense of pride — not for myself, but for everyone because of how hard they were working."

When she crossed the finish line, she waited for her teammates. "They smiled and hugged each other. The sense of community is something I'll never forget," she said.

Beyond the Finish Line
Outside of running, Bair loves being outdoors. "Whether it's hiking or climbing, I feel my most calm outside," she said. She's also creative. "I love to watercolor paint and make small crafts. My brain loves to be busy, so I'll often sit down and make a collage from an old magazine."

Ask her teammates, and they'll tell you she brings the same energy to games. "I love playing spikeball and can jam, but I'm wildly uncoordinated — so my partners have to be extremely patient," she joked.

Looking Ahead
For her first year at Santa Clara, Bair's goals are simple and steady. "Everything is going to be so new, so I really just want to get the hang of things in the fall," she said. "In the spring during track I'd love to PR in my races and continue the momentum from last season. Personally, I want to meet new people and experience new things I didn't get to in high school."

With a lifelong love for running, a welcoming team, and a campus that feels like home, Bair is ready for the next step. "It just felt right," she said. "I can't wait to see what's next."