The girls’ cross country team zoomed through this year’s MPSSAA 4A States competition on Nov. 9 with many impressive times. It was early in the morning, and the team took off together on a bus to Hereford High School. The team saw success placing 5th in the state, particularly with senior Megan Raue finishing in 6th place.
The team went into the competition confident with the familiar course ahead of them. The course was proven to be challenging but that didn’t hold the runners back.
This year has presented many new opportunities and runners to the WJ team. Freshman Natalie McCarty has come out with impressive performances over the season and has worked hard to make her way to regionals and into the state championship.
“Running through the finish line is most definitely the roughest part of the race, but I had to remember that the better every individual does is one step closer to placing well.” McCarty said.
McCarty continued her success through states and placed 27th with a personal record time of 20:46.94.
Through both their training and the actual race, the girls had lots of support.
“The support keeps me motivated and reminds me to run fast. It especially helped me at states to get through the many hard parts of the course,” Raue said.
There was a great amount of school spirit from the runners and the fans. The girls did their hair with ribbons and painted their faces with glitter. Many fans traveled over an hour to come out and represent WJ with spirited clothes and posters for the runners.
Runners reported the atmosphere of the meet to be uplifting with many friends and family crowded around the fence as close to the course as they could get. The crowd’s excitement for the team supported fellow runners.
“I felt confident going into the race because I knew which parts would be the most difficult, so I could get through those parts and then be able to relax during the parts that would be the easiest,” junior Annie Linkie said.
In the challenging course of intense hills, the girls worked with the course pacing. Megan Raue worked hard throughout her race, and as she reached the last few hills, she pushed with all she could. Raue was able to keep up with her competitors and give in one final kick at the end of the race.
Raue finished in 6th for the state out of over 100 girls. Her teammates came piling in one by one, not far behind. Mirae Denaro came in 19th, Natalie McCarty in 27th, Annabel Kotek in 43rd, Annie Linkie in 47th, Elizabeth Finn in 61st, and Audrey Blake in 75th.
The team gave their all into what could be the last race of the season. They showed an overwhelming amount of positivity in their running, and all worked hard to push each other to be the best they can be.
“I am sad that cross country is over, but I am excited for the upcoming track season. I am also happy that I will never have to run the state course again because it is super hilly and hard, but I will definitely miss the team aspect of cross country,” Raue said.
