I’m Harshita Keerthi, a student at Parkland High School and a varsity cross country and track athlete.

Running has been a big part of my life, and my own injury experience helped me understand how important it is for young athletes to train safely. 

In seventh grade, I was injured from overtraining at the beginning of my cross-country season. I had worked hard to qualify for an important meet, but because of the injury, I wasn’t able to perform the way I had hoped. That experience showed me how important it is for young runners to understand injury prevention before pain becomes serious.

Through SafeStrides, I want to help middle and high school runners prevent injuries, recover smarter, and stay consistent throughout their seasons.

I’m also passionate about biology, science, and health, which connects directly to my goal of helping student-athletes better understand their bodies.