Why Kids Run Cross Country

"One minute until you're late!" It's 6:14am on a Tuesday, and kids are hustling from the parking lot to the track at Plano West Senior High.  Coach Sean Fairchild starts his team meeting promptly at 6:15, and it's still dark.

What drives kids to do this?  Who, as a young child, dreams of high school cross country glory?  Simply put - no one.  Here's how some of them got here.

Junior, Leah Heil, is the daughter of former collegiate swimmers.  She started swimming for a club team at a young age, but fell in love with Track in middle school.  "Running became an escape from swim.  It wasn't as serious, there wasn't as much pressure and I was good at it. So in ninth grade, I joined cross country because I wanted to quit swim and I like the way running clears my head."  She hopes to train for triathlons in the future.

Junior, Logan Fabrega, is a former lacrosse and soccer player.  He loves cross country and appreciates that his coaches hold him accountable on a daily basis.  He believes the sport "builds character and mental toughness.  I love that I feel like I've accomplished something at the start of every day."

When asking athletes how they got here, common refrains are burnout from other sports; middle school coaches recognizing potential; and joining a team with friends.  They are driven by hard work, discipline and the challenge each meet or time trial brings.  

Senior, Hogan Heikkinen, gave up basketball when he entered high school because he wanted to focus on Cross Country and Track.  His older brother, Hudson, initially "inspired and encouraged him to run.  I enjoy it.  I like the team aspect and I know that I could have possibilities in the sport."

Sophomore Will Locknane's parents strongly encouraged him to run cross country in eighth grade.  "I got third place in the City Meet.  It was fun, but I was dying (afterward)."  A friend invited him to join the Plano West team, as a freshman.  "Practices were painful at first, but I hit sub-20 in the first meet and felt super good about myself."    

Haley Harper is a senior, who has played soccer with her twin sister since she was three years old.  She played school and club soccer, and was invited to a Cross Country practice last year.  "I went to a practice and I've stuck with it ever since.  And I ended up loving it even more than soccer.  I've improved a lot."  She no longer plays soccer, and has high hopes for her running career - with a goal of running in college.  

Simply put, running has captured the hearts and minds of these kids.  It's an individual and team sport that provides a daily test and they look forward to practice every day.  No matter what path led them to distance running, they're all in.