Legs burning, chest hurting, nearly falling, yet pushing through to the finish line. This is what it feels like to be a runner. To senior Sam Leone, this feeling has impacted his running career.
At first, Leone did not enjoy running cross country, starting in middle school, but continuing to play soccer instead his freshman year of high school. However, this soon changed during the winter of his freshman year. He explains that he decided to stay with the sport because he thought he could become good.
His teammates noticed this before it clicked for Sam.
“Everyone realized he was going to be very good eventually, he progressed very fast his sophomore year,” senior Adrik Gates said.
Fast forward a few years, and that is exactly what he did, eventually winning races.
To get to the point Leone is at now, he’s had to run on average 50 miles a week, around seven a day. To anyone other than a cross country runner, that seems awful, but the cross country team dynamic makes it more bearable.
“I think it’s important to work together like doing runs with your team because it helps you get closer, and it makes the runs go by easier,” Gates said.
Even though the team runs several miles during the week, that is not all they focus on. “We also do a lot of core workouts because that is the most important part of your body when you’re running, and we also do some lifting,” Leone said.
Leone stresses that it is important to stay consistent and healthy, and weightlifting, focusing on the core, does just that.
Since freshman year, Leone and Adrik followed these routines, in the footsteps of seniors. This season, they are the seniors leading everyone else.
“It feels kind of weird because freshman year, you don’t really think you’re ever going to be in the leadership position,” Leone said.
Gates agrees, the feeling is weird, however, he tries his best to fall into the footsteps of the past seniors: “When I was
a younger kid, I remember it meant a lot when one of the older kids talked to me and asked how running was going, so I try to do the same.”
While in the leadership position, Leone and Gates are aiming for many wins to come.
“My personal goal is to be top three for the whole state, and then for the team, we want to keep the state championship streak going,” Leone said.
Gates acknowledges that “they have big shoes to fill, with last year’s team being one of the best in state history,” he said.
Even though that may be a challenge, having a strong coach is important. Cross Country coach Mike Flynn tries to create a connection with the team.
“Our coach has been very encouraging to the younger kids as well as being very good in knowing how and when to push us but also be someone we can talk to and joke around with,” Gates said. Having a coach like Flynn can ensure another championship win for the 2025 season.
