Blog 12 – A means to an end

By Brenna Cohoon

Everything began at the end of last year’s cross-country season.  

Our 2017 season at the IHSA State Meet and Nike Cross Regionals did not end on the high note we were hoping it would. We realized through our many post-season team discussions our desire for more than what we achieved that season.

We determined that one of our goals in 2018 would be to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals.  Throughout our training since the end of last cross-country season, we continued to refer back to this objective to compete at the national level in the postseason.  It was as essential a goal as our hopes of placing in the top three teams at State.

As we left for Terre Haute, Indiana for NXR on Saturday morning, it dawned on us that the moment had come for us to give our best effort once more with this time the dream of going to Portland.  A goal that once seemed light years away was finally at our fingertips.  We were ready to seize the day.

Sunday’s racing got started with an awesome performance from our freshmen who made the trip to Terre Haute, placing 1st as a team in the Frosh/Soph race.  It was exciting to see some girls end their successful season with an exclamation point, as well as watching one of our teammates (Madi Sisson) run her first and last cross-country race as a freshman after being injured all season.

The girls in the Open Race also ran well, representing the Downers South Distance Club with strong enthusiasm.  It was the last race for some seniors, who have set great examples during their high school career with their work ethics for girls on the team of all ages.  It was also a great stepping stone for the sophomores that competed in this race, preparing them for continued progress and success.

After much anticipation, at last the girls Championship Race (also the last race of the day) arrived.  The seven of us competing for our team shared the mutual goal of qualifying for NXN.  We felt we could accomplish this by simply doing what we know we are capable of, just like every other race.  We pumped each other up and felt prepared when we put our hearts on the starting line.

The race began with a bang (seriously, there were fireworks!), and as expected, things were moving fast.  I was personally determined to get out to a solid start, unlike the last two years, where I waited too long to move up and was unable to make up much ground.  

The 1K mark came quickly, followed by a muddy patch on the course, and then the mile.  Similar to the State meet the week before, I started to fade out in the middle of the race, falling back as others passed me.  My teammates from the earlier races were cheering in large groups, reminding me to smile. 

I told myself that all I had to do was give everything I had again like any other race. 

I trusted that my six other teammates were doing what they had to and focused on running for them.  I used our goal of qualifying for NXN as motivation, imagining being in Portland with my best friends.  I decided to turn things around in the last mile, especially the in final 1,000 meters. 

I changed gears in the long straightaway into the finish, putting in a final kick within the last few meters.  I ended up finishing in 18^th place with a new personal best for five-kilometers I was overall pretty pleased with my performance.  It was a major improvement from the year before, where I placed 50^th and was completely disappointed with myself.

This wasn’t about me, though; It was about my team.  I found everyone together, relieved to see that each one of my friends was happy.  We were not sure what our place was, but we were proud of each other and glad we left our hardest effort out on the course against some of the best runners in the Midwest.  

“We just put forth everything our training had brought us to this weekend,” freshman Alex Spang said. 

We could not ask for anything more than that.

We lingered a bit too long near the finish line and had to sprint to the awards ceremony.  We made it in time, before the top 21 individuals were called onto the stage, which was followed by the eagerly awaited team results.  

The top teams were announced, and we heard that we had finished in third behind the incredible first place effort from Naperville North and an impressive second place finish by Yorkville.  

It felt as if everything stopped for a moment, though.  We all looked around at each other, trying to discern what that meant for us.  Were we close, in contention for one of the four at-large bids?  Or were we way out of the running, having to push away our hopes of competing at NXN?

We went up on the stage to receive our award, laughing at all of our socks that were exposed after taking off our spikes and not having any time to put on our trainers.  At least it looked like everyone on our team got the “no shoe” memo and we matched in that sense! 

We exited the stage and looked at the live results online to answer some of our questions.  Things looked hopeful as we went to complete paperwork in the event that we are selected as one of the at-large teams.  We were absolutely giddy with excitement at the possibility of accomplishing perhaps our biggest goal of the season.

Senior Melissa Weidner perfectly put into words the thoughts of the entire team in terms of our performance at NXR.  

“I am beyond excited with how our team handled the race, but I know we have more to give,” Weidner said.  “I am praying for another chance to represent DGS once more during the cross-country season and feel like our race at NXR earns us a place at NXN.”

All we can do at this point is wait until the at-large teams are announced and continue our training.  I am so ecstatic about all that our team has accomplished thus far, especially this season.  To be a part of this has been so gratifying.  

In terms of competing, Weidner said that “national meets helped us realize our place on the big stage of cross country and how to compete against some amazing teams.”  We have grown in confidence while using our experiences as moments to learn valuable lessons about ourselves. 

Team Photo – ©2018 Laura Duffy