ENTRY #4
The cross country season is certainly underway. With the remaining seven weeks until states, the team and I are simply trying to “win” each day to make them count because we only have so many days and so many practices or workouts before the season is over.
This season, one cross country tradition is the night before every meet the team enjoys hosting team dinners at various places where we eat a whole lot of spaghetti and bread, and get psyched up, probably a typical team dinner for many teams. These traditions are a great way for the largest ever team Camden has had of 35+ people to bond, and of course have fun. This is my third year as an athlete of the high school cross country team and over the few years I have witnessed a dramatic change in the attitude of running. Freshman year there was not as much enthusiasm, the cross country team was not well developed, and there was little internal team competition. But now, for me cross country has turned into such a team sport, and the best part is watching the excitement and enthusiasm in my teammates and how just that can motivate others especially with the overwhelming amount of competition to maintain a varsity spot on the team, something which has never really been seen.
This season the first meet was held at Oceanside. It was good to get back into the routine of racing after taking the summer off from meets. Although the course appeared redundant, it was still a great run. The team did very well, especially considering two varsity runners did not compete. But, that was just the beginning.
The week after was a meet at Belfast. Going into the meet I was especially nervous and felt pressure since I knew anybody in the state could see mine, or anyone on the team’s time, and know exactly what that meant. Most people know what it takes to run a 21, 20 flat, or sub 19 race. But, at the end, I ran a fine time, and a decent start to the first of four meets at Belfast (well, hopefully, if all goes well at Regionals). But, the most exciting part of the day was to see how the girls team did. Perhaps with a little bit of luck, we ended with a perfect score. We were thrilled to achieve that standard. However, there was not a straight shot of five of us taking the first five spots because Abby Hersom from Oceanside pulled off an amazing race to place second, but did not count as a scoring runner. I have enjoyed racing against Abby these past couple meets because it gives me competition and the push to try that much harder. All through middle school we raced each other and every single time, for all three years, Abby beat me by a landslide. Now, five year later, I am glad that rival has turned into more. We are able to push each other during races, and outside of meets during the winter when we train together for indoor while at the same time being great friends. I sincerely treasure that friendly relationship, because there is nothing like it.
I hope everyone has had a good start to the season and good luck at the rest of the meets!
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