Miles of momentum

2–3 minutes

AHS’s Cross Country team pushes past limits, one stride at a time

The cross country season has been a steady climb—one race, one practice, and one finish line at a time. For runners and coaches, the journey from the first meet to the last has been marked by growth, resilience, and teamwork.

“The race that stands out to me was MVAL number 3 at Newark because I was injured and couldn’t run; the course was foreign to me. I got fifth place and beat my personal record with 13:50 for 2 miles,” said Elyse Lovellette (9). That moment set the tone for how the rest of the season would unfold, testing both endurance and mindset.

For many athletes, the mental side of racing is just as demanding as the physical. “For me, it’s a little nerve-wracking until we’re on the bus—then it gets a little better,” said Maxwell Wang (10).

Still, the races pushed every runner to the edge. “The toughest course I’ve faced this season was Farmers Invitational. It had hills, and it had rained the previous night, leaving the ground muddy. I pushed through it by thinking about my next step, where to go, and thinking of who I can stick with—not worrying about what’s going to happen,” said Titas Tung (9).

Team chemistry also played a major role in performance. “My relationship with my teammates has influenced my performance this season because they are so welcoming, kind, and supportive. They always watch out for me, cheer me on while I feel like giving up during the meets, and add rainbows to my days when they’re feeling stormy,” said Lovellette. From warmups to cool-downs, encouragement from one another became fuel for the miles ahead.

Goals set early in the season slowly began to turn into achievements. “For the rest of the season I want to improve physically, so I can continue to get faster and try my hardest,” said Tung. Each runner measured success differently, some by times, other by consistency or confidence.

Beyond results and medals, the athletes say the sport has changed how they think. “Never give up, no matter how bad the situation is. You can just push through it, and if it doesn’t go away, just focus on your goal, and try your hardest,” said Tung, who learned persistence, focus, and patience from cross country.

Leadership within the group helped hold it all together. “As a senior, I’ve taken on more of a mentor role. They listen to me and are curious about my past experiences, which pushes me to lead by example,” said Romir Gandhi (12). Those efforts helped keep morale high even when races got tough.

As the season nears its close, focus turns toward the future. “I hope that for the rest of the season I can channel my love for running into my races and try harder. I hope that next year I will not get injured again and just stay healthy, most importantly,” said Brianna Su (11).

Every race, every hill and every stride built something stronger, momentum that carries beyond the finish line.