2017-2018 Cross Country Team
- Senior Editor: Gracie Gilchriest
- Jan 19, 2018
- 9 min read
Holden Cravy, Junior.
Varsity, Captain.
Best Time?
17:50/3
Why did you join cross country?
In middle school my forced me to do it, and i eventually fell in love with the sport and continued to stick with it through high school
How long have you been in cross country?
7th grade and my freshman-junior years in high school
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
My hopes this year are to reach regional's (which we did), and over the course of the season my times in races have consistently dropped each time we run
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
Team work makes the dream work and be mentally focused and strong when facing adversities
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
Dylan Stephens and Mason Youngblood. During my freshman year both these guys were seniors, ad took me under their wings and just showed me how to be a "high schooler" and introduced me to many different people and upper classman in my first year in a new school.
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
Our parents and coaches
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
Reaching regional's and getting 2nd place in district for 2 consecutive years
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
It sucks! i do it out of loyalty to my teammates and the sport and getting better because the more i practice the better i'm going to get and the better that is for the the team.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Definitely team because you have to rely on the other guys or girls on your team to do good so that the team can get 1st place and advance farther into the season. Ex: the only way for the anchors of the team to advance is if the top 5 runners do good enough for the team to move on to the next stage of the cross country season
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
Mentally psych myself up that i am going to do great and be confident in myself and my teammates because i believe in mind over matter and no matte how cheesy it sounds that if you believe it you'll achieve it.
David Wright, Junior.
Varsity, Captain.
[Left to Right: Rueben Hatton, David Wright, Coach Michael Hatton, Holden Cravy, Victor Toledo]
Best Time?
17:47/3
Why did you join cross country?
To stay in shape
How long have you been in cross country?
3 years
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
To make Regionals as a team and state as an individual. Yes I have improved since I started.
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
To never give up no matter how tough it gets.
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
Coach Hatton and my mom, they both push me everyday and at every meet to do my very best and leave everything on the course.
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
My parents
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
Regional Qualifiers last year
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
It sucks, there’s no other way to put it, but it’s all worth it being on the podium at every meet.
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
Getting to travel to different schools and meeting new people.
What are some of your biggest strengths? Weaknesses?
One of my strengths is that I never give up, and always push through the end of the race. One of my weaknesses is that I push myself to hard sometimes and burn myself out before the race ends.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Team, sure you can do good as an individual but when your whole team makes it then that’s what feels good.
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
I eat pasta every night before a meet and always listen to music before a race.
Dylan Wright, Freshman.
Varsity.
Best Time?
21:09/3
Why did you join cross country?
I like running
How long have you been in cross country?
2 seasons
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
Get regionals
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
Keep going
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
Holden, and coach Hatton
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
My mother
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
We are going to regionals this year as a team, and I got 8th as individual last year
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
Awful, my brother makes me
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
The bus rides
What are some of your biggest strengths? Weaknesses?
I doubt myself, I keep going though
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Team, they support you
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
I eat alot
Neeleigh Smith, Senior.
Varsity, Captain.
Best Time?
16:19/2
Why did you join cross country?
I enjoy running and it promotes my new healthy lifestyle
How long have you been in cross country?
2 years
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
I have definitely improved and I hope to be under 16 mins for district.
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
I have learned to push past my mental limits to achieve what my body can actually do. You can do more than you mentally think.
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
My team and coach have encouraged me to do my best and to push hard each time
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
My parents
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
Team 4th individual 21
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
I love getting up early and running! I relieved my stress and gets me prepared to take on the challenges that await me throughout the day.
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
That it relieves stress and puts you into a good mood.
What are some of your biggest strengths? Weaknesses?
Strengths is my duration but my weakness is knowing how hard I can push to achieve my best time.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
It is more individual to me since you must push yourself the whole time someone isn’t there encouraging you every step.
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
I eat healthy and practice hard
Gracie Gilchriest, Junior.
Varsity, Captain.
[Left to Right: Sydni Whitted and Gracie Gilchriest]
Best Time?
14:44/2 at the District Meet
Why did you join cross country?
I joined Cross Country because I wanted to be involved with a fall sport, and it has helped my speed and stamina in soccer tremendously.
How long have you been in cross country?
Two seasons. I started my sophomore year, but I really wish I did it my freshman year.
What are your hopes for this year?
Honestly, I just wanted to do my best and see what would happen. Luckily one of my aspirations was being able to attend the Regional Meet, which both boys and girls teams achieved! The girls this year were the first to go to Regionals as a team in Silsbee History!
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
I have learned to let go of everything and run. You can literally run away from your problems for 20 minutes without even thinking!
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
Definitely Coach Hatton. He is so passionate about the sport and compassionate about us! He never screams at us (which I appreciate) and gives us personal constructive criticism.
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
Definitely my family and friends. My parents and brother are always supportive; my parents attend every meet possible, and my brother, even the an ocean away from me right now, always asks about my times and send tips before I run. Scout Bebee is supportive also! She always sends me sweet inspirational messages before I run, and sometimes even comes to the meets she can attend!
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
At a pre-District meet in Lumberton, I received my first medal (8th place)! I fell one place short from advancing to Regionals individually at the District meet (11th), unfortunately, but luckily our team scores were high enough to still advance to Regionals as a team with third place!
What are some of your biggest strengths? Weaknesses?
My biggest strength is my determination; I will always do it to the best of my abilities. My weakness would definitely be my compassion for other runners... I decided to pick up another runner's shoes at the district meet, distracting me from getting the top ten. My plan for next year is to be more aggressive, haha.
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
It's not the ideal routine, but running definitely gives me more energy and focus on my school work. After a while, you get accustomed to it.
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
My favorite part would be the comraderie without being dependent on other people. Everyone can do their own best at their own pace.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Definitely it's a team sport. You think I get up at 5:20 by myself? No! Having the other teammates gives us inspiration to keep going no matter what.
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
I'll often eat a high-carb meal the night before (sometimes we will have team dinners), get the best quality sleep possible, and drink half a water bottle right before I run. Not too early though; there can be unfortunate effects from over hydrating while running, haha.
Sydni Whitted, Junior.
Varsity
[Left to Right: Sydni Whitted and Coach Michael Hatton]
Best Time?
17:54/2
Why did you join cross country?
My mom made me oh yeah and Gracie kind of convinced me
How long have you been in cross country?
This is my first year
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
To make it to regionals and Most Definitely
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
Never give up
Think about the people you’ve met through cross country: coaches, students, fans. Who has influenced you the most? Why?
Coach Hatton he pushes me hard everyday because he knows what i am capable of
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
Parents Grandparents and my Aunts
What’s the highest prize you’ve won (team, individual)?
Actually this year is girls made history, we our the first team of girls to ever go to Regionals
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
It really sucks and because i have learned to enjoy it
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
The feeling after I run to know I just ran 2 miles.
What are some of your biggest strengths? Weaknesses?
Pushing is my strength and my breathing is my weakness; I don't breathe well.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Team because we all work together and we all run every race
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
Practice
Mindi Barton, Freshman.
Varsity
Best Time?
18:49/2 min at a meet, 17:21/2 at practice
Why did you join cross country?
I enjoy running and my parents encouraged me to.
How long have you been in cross country?
This is my first season.
What are your hopes for this year? How have you improved since you started?
My hopes were to make regionals (we did!!) I've gotten much faster and cut at least 5 minutes off my time since I started training in July.
What have you learned from cross country (in the sport and life skills)?
I've learned that when you believe you can reach a goal, it's much easier to achieve it opposed to doubting your potential. Cross Country is truly a mind over matter sport.
Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
One of my biggest supporters is probably my dad. Every morning at 4:30, he wakes me up and then brings me to practice. He never let me give up, even when I thought I was going to die of exhaustion. My dad also runs with me at home to get extra practice in, because he knows how important running is to me.
What’s it like getting up so early in the morning and then having to go through a full day? Why do you do it?
When we first started practicing, it was hard to go to sleep early enough to get a good amount of sleep, but now it's just a natural routine. Running in the morning actually seems to give me more energy through the day compared to when I don't run.
What’s your favorite part of cross country?
My favorite part of Cross Country is sprinting the last little bit of the race as hard as I can when I see the finish line.
Would you say cross country is more individual or team? Why?
Cross Country is definitely a team sport because everyone's placement matters. The first 5 finishers on our team's places are added together to get our scores, and the 6th and 7th finishers on our team's places push other team's placement back, making their score higher.
How do you prepare for upcoming meets?
I attend practice almost everyday, where we typically run 2-3 miles, sprints, or hill work. After running, we stretch out our muscles and work out our cores. Right before our race begins, the girls' team always prays together and wish each other luck.
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