Pacific Index

Cross country team finds its strength in unity, not just speed

Cross country running does not automatically pop to mind when thinking about team sports. After all, the lone runner can have a great race, but a lone running back cannot win a game. But for Boxer cross country, “team” has been a major emphasis heading into the season.

“There is more of a priority for us staying together,” Junior Jordan Lucero explains. “We kind of feed off each other’s energy.” To Lucero, that has been a big difference from this year compared to last year. “We didn’t really feel that last year. We were really just doing it for ourselves in a way, but this year we’ve really focused on keeping each other up.” 

Both the runners and the coaches assure that these changes are fundamental to performance, as stronger bonds between runners can give these athletes more incentive to push each other to reach for greater things.

“We still have a young team,” Coach Riley Stewart told the Index. “But the guys still want to achieve high goals, so they push each other to see them accomplish that.” 

That team ethic and culture is apparent throughout the program this year. Instead of athletes going off, running their own pace during practice runs, Coach Stewart has wanted them to stay together. “Another thing I’ve really been focusing on this year is running as a team. Pack running,” Coach Stewart added. “You know we have some top guys, and like three of the guys, I want to race together, so they can feed off the energy during the race and eventually split apart on their own at the end. But really, it’s a race mentality and working together as a pack.”

Senior Henry Tierney commented, “A major part of the offseason was the training; we have guys with summer jobs, but there was a lot of summer training… Hitting 70-80 miles a week, doing strength training, and just getting our jobs done was brutal.” However, Tierney is confident that the training will pay off. Tierney, who is coming off an injury in his junior year, looks to bounce back after being named a track and field Second Team All-American in 2024.

With a younger team like the Boxers cross country, this pack mentality can really fuel these young athletes to compete. Northwest Conference Rookie of the Year, Peyton Fisher returns, as well as other sophomores who are looking to have standout seasons. Sophomores RJ Lydon, Jacob Tilden, and Tathan Woodward are the group to look out for, according to Tierney.

The Boxers will compete next Saturday, October 4, at the Charles Bowles Invite in Salem.