All-American runner Alexi Pappas, who also competed for the Greek team at the 2016 Olympics, has gone far beyond sport in touching people about her struggles dealing with depression and her athletic exploits are making her a role model too.

Kaylan Zysk is a senior who runs cross country and competes in track and field at Little Falls High School in upstate New York went undefeated in individual competition at dual meets during the 2020 autumn Cross Country season when she set a course record in Dolgeville and won the Center State Conference championship meet by more than one minute over her nearest competitor.

She told the Times Telegram in an interview that “I’ve looked up to Alexi Pappas for my entire running career. She is a Greek-American distance runner who holds the Greek national record for the 10,000 meters.”

It's Pappas' other endeavors that appeal to her too. “She's also a director, actress and author. She inspires me to pursue all of my interests with as much passion as I pursue my athletics,” said Zysk. During the COVID-19 pandemic she said that's helped with distance running goals.