Sarah Healy is a runner who would prescribe to that theory.

She had the talent on the track, drawn to the middle distances of the 400, 800 and 1500m races while competing for the Courtice Secondary School team. She also enjoyed a measure of success at that level, advancing to OFSAA in both her Grade 9 and 10 years.

But it was at the urging of coach Bill Cunliffe that she finally began to view running as a way to earn an education by route of a scholarship south of the border.

"He saw the potential in me when I was younger," recalls the 18-year-old. "I always liked to run and enjoyed the fitness aspect of it. (Cunliffe) would always say that I did well without that much training. He told me over and over again that the opportunity for me to get a scholarship was really good."

Turns out the coach was right.

Healy has signed a four year scholarship with Boston University, where she will study Human Physiology in the fall.

Running has always been a part of Healy's recreational pursuit. But it was on the soccer pitch where she channelled her efforts initially.

"Soccer was always my main sport up until about two years ago," she says. "I always did track on the side, but decided to focus all my attention toward track.

"I always wanted to go away on a scholarship when I was younger, but I thought I would achieve it through soccer."

Her ascent through the ranks was quick. In 2007 she was selected to represent Ontario in the USA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York City in the 800m. Silver was the apparent colour of choice for the year, as she finished second at the Provincial Indoor Legion Championships (800m), the Indoor Ontario Track and Field Association Championships (400m), the Outdoor Provincial Legion Championships (800m), Outdoor OTFA steeplechase (800m and 1500m), and the LOSSA cross country championships.

This year she picked up a bronze at the OTFA Senior Championships in the 400m and finished fourth in the 800m.

Along the way she has engraved her name in the record books at Courtice, posting the fastest times in school history in the 400, 800 and 1500m, as well as the 1500m steeplechase. She is also a member of the record setting 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams, was the track and field MVP for the last two years, and was named the Junior Athlete of the Year in Grade 10.

None of the accomplishments come as a surprise to Cunliffe.

"She has a real competitive spirit. When she's racing she has that attitude where nobody is going to beat her if she can help it. She has that real competitive fire," he says.

Healy is just as proficient in the classroom as on the track, maintaining an average of 93 percent in all her Grade 11 subjects, and carrying that same number through the first semester of Grade 12. The fact that Boston University has a strong academic program won her over after also visiting the campuses of Florida Atlantic and Marquette.

"Boston has an amazing facility, the team was nice and the city life looked good," she says of the visit. "Everything about it I could see going there and really enjoying my four years.

"The school ranks high in academics and that is a big deal to me. I wanted to go where the programs were really recognized."

Though it will be tough to leave home and branch out on her own, it's an exciting time for Healy.

"I am going to miss my family, friends, coach and team. It will be hard to leave them behind, but it will be exciting to start something new and meet new people."