Racing around the track, which she does at a blistering pace, Aviva Pearce feels free. Worries and troubles can’t catch her.

“I do love it,” the 14-year-old said. “It takes away all my problems.”

Aviva was selected by her school as this year’s winner of the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award, the highest honor a middle-school athlete can receive in Ohio. She has been the MVP of her Pleasant View Middle School track team, and she does well academically.

Aviva also happens to have autism.

“I really do think she should be acknowledged for her accomplishments,” said Aviva’s mom, Aja Farris. “I’m elated and proud.”

Learning that her daughter would be accepting the Archie Griffin Award “was just euphoria,” said Farris, a firefighter with the Columbus Division of Fire. “We literally went out and bought gowns. We were overdressed, and we loved it.”

Kevin Yuhas, Aviva’s service coordinator at Franklin County DD, said he’s never worked with such a successful, focused young athlete. “I think the training that she’s doing now – weight training, running – it helps her feel calm. Competing does wonders for how she views herself,” he said. “She’s found this thing that’s her thing.”

Always an energetic child, Aviva had been a gymnast. “Then she came up to me and said, ‘Mom, I’m done with gymnastics. I want to run track,’’’ Farris said. Aviva excels in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes, and set a new school record in the 400-meter dash.

Yuhas said Aviva’s family is close-knit and dedicated to helping her thrive. “There’s a lot of strength in the family, and they’re very supportive of each other.”

Seeing Aviva find her niche means so much, Farris said. She told one of the coaches, “My daughter is good. And she’s going to be great.”

Aviva, right, and her mom, Columbus Firefighter Aja Farris