By the time Annika Urban graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 2019, she had already established herself as an amazing runner. She was a three-time WPIAL medalist in cross country, a two-time WPIAL medalist in the 3200, and a state medalist in the distance medley relay in indoor track. And that’s not all. She was also a member of the 2018 team that won the school’s first and only girls cross country state championship. Prior to graduation, she earned a total of 12 varsity letters in cross country (4), outdoor track (4), indoor track (3), and swimming (1).
None of that, however, compares to what she was able to achieve in college. Annika was recruited by all levels of colleges and universities in the NCAA, but she chose Emory University, where she continued racing in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. She became a rising star, and by the time she closed out her historic career with the Eagles in May, Annika had won two individual NCAA Division III national championships – one in the 1500m run in outdoor track (4:22.16), and another in the mile in indoor track (4:43.17).
She is the first Emory athlete to win individual national championships in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Annika also holds school records at Emory in the indoor mile, 3K and 5K, as well as the outdoor 800m, 1500m and 5K events.
Furthermore, Annika left Emory as a 19-time University Athletic Association (UAA) Runner of the Week and a four-time recipient of the NCAA South Regional Female Athlete of the Year award by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Annika also left an indelible mark in Fox Chapel Area High School history as the first individual to become a national champion in a PIAA-supported sport.
Foundation with Foxes Steered Her to Success
Annika’s former Foxes coach, Tom Moul, remembers his past captain and cross country MVP with great fondness and admiration. He says, “Annika was fun to coach because she wanted to do exactly what you asked of her. She got it right away and carried it out fully. She led by example that way, but also by being inclusive and positive with her teammates. One thing I always think about is how mentally and physically tough she was.”
Annika credits coach Moul for the influence he had on her in becoming the runner she is today.
“Coach Moul taught me so much about what being an athlete, and especially a runner, truly mean,” says Annika, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in human health and political science, and is now associate health editor with U.S. News & World Report. “From starting summer practices in June to always encouraging us to make sure we were doing all of the small things – drinking enough water, getting enough sleep – he was constantly showing us how important it was to be an athlete in your daily life and not just during practice. While college training and competing is definitely different from high school, that feeling of the importance of being an athlete 24/7, instead of just while you’re at practice, was something that I definitely learned from Coach Moul.”
Her recollections of being on his team are filled with pride. She remembers, “Winning the state championship was an incredible experience, and I feel really lucky that I was able to do that with my best friends. Going from my sophomore year of high school having never had a Fox Chapel Area women’s team qualify for states to winning the meet really showed me how much of a difference teamwork makes, even in a sport that often feels very individual. That was just a really fulfilling experience, and I was really proud to represent Fox Chapel on such a high level at the state meet.”
Advice for Young Athletes
Most athletes must overcome challenges at some point in their careers, and Annika was no different. She actually started out as a swimmer long before she set foot on a track and was very good at it. But when she started having breathing issues from the chemicals and stuffy environment from the pool, she quit and later was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. She learned how to manage the condition, went on to develop a love for running, and learned how to remain strong mentally and physically.
“It’s inevitable that running will be hard at times – whether that’s because of injury, mental health, coaches or teammates, or any number of other things – running can become really hard. What’s important when you’re taking big leaps and throwing yourself into training and racing is to really understand why you’re doing it. That way, every day you show up to practice, every time you’re rolling or stretching or forgoing a night out to get better sleep, there’s some intrinsic motivation for that.”
Her interest in human health and wellness taught her much about taking a holistic approach to athletics and how to get the most from your body.
“It’s so important to treat your body with love,” Annika says. “Our bodies do so much for us as runners, and it’s important to treat them right. That means getting plenty of fuel to do the work that they do, allowing for rest when needed, and treating them with kindness and appreciation. Then, just lean into it and don’t be afraid. You can trust that hard work will pay off eventually.”
No Stopping Her Now
While this latest chapter in Annika’s racing career has ended, she has no intention of hanging up her cleats. She plans to race professionally while working fulltime at U.S. News & World Report, and hopes to reach more goals, including speeding up her pace even more.
“I don’t know yet what my next races will be, but I’ll definitely keep training, and for me, it’s not hard to do regularly and intensely,” says Annika, who has decided to remain living in Atlanta. “Running is something that I’m really grateful to be able to do and that helps keep me grounded and healthy and happy. So, I’ll still be training with love for the sport and my always competitive spirit, hopefully making my family and friends from Pittsburgh proud!”
One of those special friends from Pittsburgh is Ben Kronman, who Annika met when they were teammates on the Foxes team. They began dating when she was a junior, and she joined him at Emory a year after he graduated from high school. They have been together going on six years now, and she says he is probably her biggest supporter.
“He ran shorter distance events and was a long and triple jumper in high school,” says Annika. “He also did long and triple jump for Emory. It was very special to get to be teammates for so long! It’s another great part of my life from Fox Chapel.”