Fight to the Finish

Girls Cross Country wins State Championship for first time in ten years

After finishing two seasons as State Runner-ups, Girls Cross Country runners entered the season
determined to come out on top. Beginning with conditioning in June, runners dedicated extensive
time to training each week, with the end goal of winning state.

“At practice, we gave our full effort and tried to stay super focused. I also made sure to eat
healthy and be well rested,” Laurel Walls (10) said.

After a season filled with first place finishes, the team entered the championship as first in their
division. Despite their dominant ranking, the runners were apprehensive of the upcoming race,
yet excited to compete.

“When the race started, I was trying to remember to get our fast and run a good race. In the first
100 meters, I wanted to pass as many people as I could,” Ava Kanitkar (10) said.

During the race, the girls relied on the competitive, focused mindsets they developed through
workouts and races throughout the season. Keeping clear heads, runners began to move up in the
race and pick off their competitors.

“I stayed motivated by reflecting on how much work the team put in because I knew I sacrificed
a lot. I tried not to think too much about state and treated it like any other race,” Lydia Metz (10)
said.

In the end, the top four runners finished all within the top 15, with Kendra Miles (8) finishing
third, Metz finishing seventh, Walls finishing ninth and Kanitkar finishing 15th. Their
placements qualified them for the All-State team. In addition to their individual successes, the
athletes took home a first place trophy, the second in program history, and the first in a decade.

“When we won, I felt super proud of how far we came, and I was so thankful that I was given
such a huge opportunity for my last high school race,” Grace Harrell (12) said.