The girls cross country team at Rocky this season has been absolutely crushing it. New PR’s have been made at meets, team encouragement and pride is strong, and the girls are looking forward to possibly making it to Nationals. What is it that drives them to success? Hard work and determination.

Carly Hartman, a sophomore on the cross country team, shares what a typical practice looks like for her: “Workouts usually have 800m, 400m, and 200m, or we run fast for a certain amount of time then run slow for a certain amount of time.” These long run intervals are a daily staple for them.  It takes a hardworking mindset to be able to consistently do them with ease. Recovery days for these athletes are filled with cross fitness and a 60-minute run.

According to 2 sophomores on the team, the Vallivue Scramble was a big and exciting meet for everyone. Ava Dacosta shares her thoughts on the meet: “So far the most exciting meet this season would have to be the Vallivue Scramble because a lot of people got PRs for the new season.” A PR is a new personal best for runners with their time during races. The fact that the majority of the team was able to achieve a new record is pretty impressive.

The biggest motivation for these runners during the new season seems to be the supportive environment of the team and the promise of making it to nationals if they work hard enough. Dacosta remarks on her biggest motive for the 2025 season: “My biggest motivation is my teammates. They all encourage each other really well.” A big part of staying driven is having people you can rely on to lift you up, and the girls cross country team here at Rocky is sure to emphasize that.