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Athletic moms juggle books, family responsibilities

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Corina Mendoza-Martinez and Olga Gutierrez-Nunez

By Lana Lozano, Athletics Media Relations

For two runners on the Fresno State women's cross country team life is more than just a juggle between school and athletics.

Senior Olga Gutierrez-Nunez and junior Corina Mendoza-Martinez are married, mothers, students and athletes. Olga has been married for three-and-a-half years and has a 2-year old son, Naason. Corina has been married almost two years and has a year-old daughter, Alexis.

However, these two share more than the obvious. Both women are psychology majors with the hope of becoming high school psychologists.

For both, a typical day during the season starts at 5 a.m. because of 6 a.m. practice. The children have to be dressed and ready and lunch for mom has to be made.

Corina takes Alexis to her husband's grandmother because her husband has to be at work at 5:30 a.m. Olga must have her son ready so that her husband can drop him off at her mother's house before taking her to school because she does not drive.

Corina and Olga have school all day and then practice again at the end of the day. After practice Corina goes back to school, then gets home around 9 p.m. and starts her homework plus taking care of her daughter.

Olga often can be caught catching a nap in the women's locker room, curled up with her pillow and blanket. She takes the team van back to school then she has to catch the bus to her church, where she meets her husband and son every day for 6 p.m. mass. At 7 p.m. choir practice begins for both Olga and her husband and since they both help with Bible study they do not get home until 9 p.m.

It is hard to start her homework with her 2-year old running around, so Olga postpones studying until after she puts him to bed at 10.

Family is very important to these mothers. Both have only one sibling and are very close to their parents. They rely on all family members as well as in-laws for help, from advice to babysitting.

Both say they are very lucky that their husbands are so helpful.

"I take care of about 75 percent to 80 percent of the baby's needs, but he does most of the housework," Corina said.

"Things just automatically get done. Whoever has the time, does it," Olga added. "There's only one thing he won't do, and that is change diapers."

Both women say having children has delayed their athletic careers but not their success.

Olga has participated in three cross country seasons and one track and field season. She had been the top finisher for the Bulldogs in every meet as a junior while finishing second on the team this season.

Corina said it has taken her a while to get back in shape and she is still not as fast as she was when she was a freshman. Working to get back in running form, she ran in two meets this year.

Both athletes credit Bulldog women's cross country coach Shannon Leider for her support.

Back to University Journal, 1/03 Issue