Alexa Johnson is not simply one of 31 runners on Broadneck’s girls cross country team.
It’s not that she doesn’t contribute — she’s a team captain and figures to score for the Bruins at meets more often than not — but the Broadneck junior isn’t defined by her performance on the running circuit.
The 2025 season marks Johnson’s second year running cross country. She entered her high school career as a soccer player, and she played for the Bruins’ JV team in 2023 before making the switch to running last year.
It turned out to be something she truly enjoyed, even if it took a major adjustment to perform a sport that is most other sports’ punishment: running.
By the end of last season, though, Johnson knew she was capable of big things.
“I felt it was like being consistent with my training and trying to push times harder than I thought was possible,” she said. “I just stayed positive with myself and told myself that it’s only my mind stopping me, and I could do more than that. Once I realized that, I could start going faster.”
Johnson has a 4.22 weighted GPA, 3.9 unweighted, and has taken several AP classes. But she goes well beyond the academic rigor and has established herself as a leader in the class of 2027: she is a member of the Broadneck Athletic Leadership Council, a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), and one of two vice presidents for Broadneck’s junior class.
“I really like to be involved and speak for my community. Recruiting for cross country (for example), we have the largest group of freshmen that we’ve had in a really long time, and a few of us went to the middle schools and advocated for cross country,” Johnson said. “I like representing my school community, and if there’s something to be vocal or advocating for it, I always like to be available for that.”
Between three AP classes, student government, athletics and leadership, NHS, clubs, and community involvement, there isn’t much that Johnson doesn’t have her fingers on in the pulse of Broadneck High School.
It’s that feeling of involvement that allows her to feel connected to her school, her community, and the people in both of those circles.
Whether running at school or in free time, lifeguarding, serving at school or in the community, or simply trying something or going somewhere new, Johnson views everything as an opportunity.
“I love making friends through different activities,” said Johnson, who hopes to attend college someplace “warmer” and major in marketing and advertising, a discipline befitting someone so connected. “I’ve made friends in cross country, track, my classes, and everything else. Getting to know new people and learning more things that I don’t think I would have come across in life is really exciting to me.”
The Voice’s Student-Athlete of the Month is sponsored by Matt Wyble of Next Step Realty. Contact Zach Sparks at zach@severnaparkvoice.com to nominate a local student making a positive impact through sports.
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