Representing a school that has always been passionate about sports, cross country can certainly be overlooked. There’s something about the combination of endurance, strategy, and mental toughness required to be successful in cross country that appeals to others and should be brought to light. This is definitely shown through the West XC program, and this article highlights some of the talent that is shown in XC.

One of the things that is most loved in cross country is the sense of camaraderie and teamwork that develops among teammates. Unlike many other sports, where individual performance is often emphasized above all else, cross country is all about working together to achieve a common goal. Freshman Rachel Saxon details this by saying  “Cross country is very much a family-like community. I know that any person on the team would be there for me, just as I would be there for them. We are all proud of each other’s accomplishments and thrive off of each other in running and outside of the sport.”  Whether it’s pushing each other to run faster during practice or strategizing as a team during a race, there’s a real sense of community that develops among cross-country runners.

At the same time, cross country is also a very individual sport. While it’s true that runners work together as a team, ultimately each individual is responsible for their own performance. This means that there’s a real sense of personal achievement that comes with running cross country – the feeling of pushing yourself to your limits and achieving something that you never thought was possible.

Of course, there are challenges to running cross country as well. Whether it’s dealing with injuries, battling through tough weather conditions, or simply trying to stay motivated during long training runs, there are plenty of obstacles that runners must overcome in order to be successful. But it’s this very challenge that makes cross country so rewarding. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing the finish line of a race, knowing that you’ve given it your all and achieved something truly great.

All in all, cross country is a sport that you should look into if you’re looking for a challenge, a sense of community, and a chance to push yourself to your limits. Coach Hekker says “My best advice for those looking to join cross country is to run the summer camp. That gives a really good feel for what the team is going to be like and is a lot of fun. The summer camp builds up base mileage, which will be a giant support for the season then you can focus on more speed. Whether you’re an experienced runner looking for a new challenge or a beginner just starting out, there’s something about cross country that will capture your heart and keep you coming back for more.