Jessica Poole is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Thunderbird High School for AZPreps365.com

Despite the heartbreak of losing his mother, Thunderbird high school senior Antonio Suero channels his grief into motivation, pushing him toward a dream of making top 10 at the Arizona Division II Northwest Cross Country State Championship on Oct 24 at Heroes Park in Glendale.

Two years ago, Suero's world was turned upside down when he lost his mother, Margie Rey Suero, unexpectedly. Yet, even in the face of profound grief, he continues to excel—both on the track and in the classroom, completing his mother’s wishes.

“A child should never have to grow up without their parents, and experience such a tragedy,” Antonio’s dad, Jose Suero Jr., said. “But we’ve stuck together and continued what Margie started. We continued to finish what I knew she would have wanted.

“It was her who got these two (Antonio and sister Marissa) started into sports and activities, getting them outside of the house and off of technology,” Jose said.

“She was a marathon runner herself in her younger years and it was either running or soccer, right? So, we found his niche.”

Antonio draws strength from his mother’s memory. He was one of two boys from the Titans to make it to the 2023 state championships, where he placed 61st with a time of 18:13.7.

This year, he hopes for a better result.

At the Glendale Showcase meet on Oct. 5, Antonio shaved more than a minute off his previous best with an impressive 17:23.

With just a few days to go until this year’s championship and a new personal best, he is positioned to break into the top 10. The winning time at last year’s meet was 16:30.9, and Antonio is closing in fast.

“My mom was always a great support for me,” Antonio said. “Before we lost her, she gave me a necklace with an A on it. She always called me her angel. So, every day, I wear that, and when I run, I take it off because I don't want to lose it.

 “I always imagine that she's with me and helping me through. I have to keep running, keep pushing harder. Now that I know I can break 17:30, I must break 17:00 and keep moving forward.”

Antonio shared that he had to mature quickly, juggling the demands of academics, sports, and other commitments—a challenge he faced head-on.

With the unwavering support and guidance of his coaches, Lee Chandler and Melissa Zimmerman, along with his father, he has been able to navigate the emotional hurdles and stay focused on his goals.

"Running is a mental outlet," Zimmerman explained. "We encouraged him to keep pushing forward and give his best effort. We incorporate a lot of journaling and focus on the body through practices like yoga, which I believe helped him get into the right mindset and stay grounded."

“They always give great advice and keep me on track with regular workouts," Antonio said. "Even during breaks, we keep training, even when others might not.

“My dad pushes me hard. Sometimes it’s annoying, but in the end it’s great because I know it comes from love, and it helps me improve. You know the saying, ‘Pain plus time equals improvement.’ It’s true."

Antonio is no stranger to pushing his limits. His parents have always kept him engaged, balancing sports, music, and academics throughout his life.

He’s involved in music, takes AP classes, is an honor student and recently was awarded Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts.  

“He's got a heavy schedule in school this year,” Jose said.” “Though he loves running, he enjoys being outdoors and extracurricular activities, and I try to support them.”

Over the summer, Antonio took part in a prestigious aerospace engineering program at Johns Hopkins University, bringing him one step closer to his dream of becoming an engineer for NASA.

“I’m really interested in space travel,” Antonio said. “After I graduate, I would like to focus on becoming an engineer building spaceships.”

Currently, Antonio boasts an impressive 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 5.0 weighted GPA, showcasing his dedication both on and off the field.

“We continued to finish what I knew Margie would have wanted,” Jose, said. “Eagle Scout, top five in his graduating class, and going to college. We have our eye on Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).”

“Not only running, but in everything, my mom has been a major part of my life,” Antonio said. “She got me into running, in the band, in Boy Scouts, helped me through all of it.”

“It’s perseverance, just thinking about her, keeping her with me.”