The Girls Cross Country team silently huddled at the district championships on Nov. 1st, waiting for the announcement that would change everything. The 4th-place team was announced, but it wasn’t UPrep. The 3rd was announced and celebration erupted across every face. The girls were going to the State Championships for the first time in 15 years.
“When we got our name announced, ‘University Prep, third place,’ there’s just, so much screaming and jumping and I definitely teared up a little bit because I was so excited and happy for the girls to get there together as a full team,” Head Coach Kayla Robertson said.
State took place on Saturday, Nov. 8. The weather was clear and sunny–perfect conditions to run a race. The team ended up getting 8th overall. UPrep’s top finisher was Adeline Armato, who placed 30th overall. The girls team also featured six other runners making their first ever state appearance. Senior and team captain Sonya Carter acknowledges the differences between this year’s success and previous years.
“Only one of our runners had been to state last year,” Carter said. “I think it was definitely like all of her hard work that season had paid off, and it just felt really good,” she said.
Carter explains what contributed to the girl’s triumph this year.
“I think that they really believe in each other and the program, and their communication with each other and coaches,” Carter said.
The boys Cross Country Team had their own methods and stories as well.
“You have to be pretty competitive if you want to do well, because you don’t want to be slower than the rest of the team,” Boys Captain Lucas Keppler said, “You don’t want to be slower than the other teams. You want to be able to have bragging rights.”
Coach Roberston shared what drives the boys to succeed.
“Seeing their teammates succeed and improve motivates everyone else,” Coach Roberston said. “For our boys team, we had two boys qualify for state, a freshman and a sophomore, which is awesome. But I think our junior boys look at that and see the girls qualify as a team, and they want to be there next year.”
Runners Karsten Christenson and Logan McKay finished their races in 14th and 44th respectively. Both of whom moved up after the first mile of the race. Both Christensen and McKay are underclassmen and have more years of time to train and improve. Boys
Captain Lucas Keppler shares one final piece of advice for anyone hoping to try out cross country. “Don’t give up,” Keppler said. “It’s not gonna be easy and it’s not gonna get easier. You just complete it faster.”
