Concluding the season as the state runners-up, both the boys and girls cross-country teams reflected on the work it took to bring their teams to success.
Rain or shine, from the Pribil Stadium track to the Chili Pepper meet in Arkansas, the runners pushed themselves to their limits in preparation for the State championship.
“I grew in cross-country a lot mentally,” junior Mia Muller said. “I was able to push myself harder to meet my goals.”
Chile Pepper was thought to be the turning point for both teams, being the race that many runners set their personal record times. Concluding the successful race, both teams anticipated their upcoming races with an understanding of the goals they would set for themselves going into Regionals.
Cross-country is an equally physical and mentally challenging sport. Running many miles in a competition pushes a runner’s athletic abilities, but finding the motivation to get up every day to be the best runner you can requires true mental strength.
The boys and girls teams both won state runner up, with Worthington and sophomore Sylvie Harper individually taking third and first.
Joining cross country his junior year introduced senior Luke Worthington to a new talent and passion, which he is planning to continue in college. While 15 seconds slower than his personal record, Worthington won 3rd place overall at State with the time of 16:04.
“Coming into the season, I feel like there was this expectation that we were going to get third or fourth in the state,” Worthington said.
After starting to win races as the season began, the teams’ mindset and expectations changed.
“We’ve been raising that bar since the start of the season.”
