FORT MYERS, Fla. – Violet Lackey landed her first top ten finish in her initial season of competing as a part of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles cross country team at October's Ed Holloway Classic 6K. Already an accomplished baker and entrepreneurial founder of Sweet Violets, a bakery that she started upon moving to Florida in 2023, she's now proved she can cook both on the college cross country course as well as in the kitchen.

Lackey's cross-country journey from California to Florida was not the usual start-to-finish-line journey. She spent two years of high school homeschooling in her birthplace before coming east and finishing high school in Naples and then coming to FGCU, bringing the baking prowess she developed in Southern California, to Southwest Florida with her.

Competing in cross country, track and weightlifting, Lackey found that having a typical high school part-time job was tougher than being her own manager.

"I started out just helping make scones, cookies and cakes," she said, working at 'Just What I Kneaded' bakery in California. "Then one day when everyone was busy, they asked me if I would write 'happy birthday' on top of a cake and do some of the other fancier decorations."
She did and excelled. That would be the initial ingredients in forming Sweet Violets.

Pursuing a degree in legal studies with a minor in political science, Lackey is busily on the run, even when she's not wearing running shoes or baking gloves. Last summer, she was accepted and took part in a Marine Officer Training program in Quantico, Virginia, and still found time to enjoy the summer visiting the Mid-Atlantic states with her family. She plans to continue this military training process toward a future commission, which she wants to fit within law school after FCGU and eventually become a lawyer. 

"I don't really like sitting still," Lackey explained, which is perfect for a runner, and obvious in her accomplishments, ambition and aspirations.

Her brother, Cohen, is also an FGCU student, who is focused on kinesiology and will begin an off-campus semester in Japan this coming summer. She also has a stepbrother and sister who share the family zeal for success.

"My mother is a runner, and my parents encouraged me to try power-lifting when I was in California," Lackey says. She loves competitive sports but makes the point that, in spite of what people might think, cross country is not an individual sport. 

"I love my teammates and being part of a team is a huge part of this experience. Coach Argeo Cruz is great – he told us: 'Have fun with it and give it your best,' which is great advice," Lackey recalled.

There are clearly many finish-line ribbons that Lackey will break through in her future. Whether it's distance running, becoming a lawyer or serving as a leader in the military, she is destined for success based on her goals and dedication.

"When I'm running, it's a way to clear my head, and baking is similar to that in overcoming whatever stress you are dealing with and making sure you get all the ingredients right for success."

You can visit Sweet Violet's at the Instagram handle: @sweetvioletsbaking to check out and order any of her highly-acclaimed baked treats. However, those orders may be a bit delayed as she runs in the ASUN Championships and NCAA South Regionals over the next couple of weeks!