It is a wide world of sports for Wendy Sanders. Born in Utica on July 18, 1959, she has conquered bicycling racing, running, mountain climbing, cross-country skiing, and whitewater rafting, to name a few.

She has competed in biathlons, duathons, marathons and ultramarathons on local, state and national levels. She has even climbed all 46 of (he Adirondack's High Peaks.

As a runner, she ranked 38th in the U.S. for 50 miles and ranked 31st in the U.S. at 50-kilometers in 1982. She competed in five marathons and five ultramarathons.

As a skier, she tallied 11 gold medals and 2 silver medals in the Empire State Games from 1988 (01994. As a member of the New York State Ski Racing Association from 1988 to 1994, Sanders competed in 20 cross-country ski marathons.

She also excelled as a bicyclist. In 1993 alone, Sanders won a bronze medal in the U.S. Senior National Tandem Time Trial, placed first in the New York State Northern District Tandem Time Trial Championship. and took a bronze medal in the Pennsylvania Tandem Time Trial, all with her husband, Brian.

Sanders competed in II "century" bicycle rides. From 1993 to 1994, she was a licensed road and mountain bike racer with Margaret Thompson's local Risley Cold Springs Team. Sanders won at least nine bicycle races from 1991 to 1993 in mountain biking. tandem and road racing.

Sanders received a Bachelor's Degree in outdoor education from Hampshire College (Massachusetts). before going on to get her teaching degrees from SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Plattsburgh.

She was employed as a winter survivor instructor for the Seattle (Wash.) Parks and Recreation Department in 1983. She served as a wilderness instructor/trip director in Oregon and Wyoming. From 1992 to 1994, Sanders worked as a licensed whitewater/ rafting guide in Idaho and Oregon. She also worked as a wilderness guide for troubled teenagers in Albany, Oregon. In 1990, and led outings for the freshman class at Hamilton College in 1996.

She has served on the boards of the Utica Roadrunners and the Mohawk Valley Bicycling Club.

Sanders is currently a science teacher at Mohawk Junior/Senior High School. As a former adviser and founder of the Science Club, she still leads outdoor adventures for student groups.