Cross Country: The Inside Scoop

The star runners discuss their views

By: Keighly Ferguson

“If this sport was easy, this would be your shirt!” This is the phrase that is written on the back of this year’s cross country team T-shirts, and this might be true.

Annabella Mowry, a freshman at PHU is the star runner of the girls’ varsity Cross Country team. She has been running since she was six years old and worked her way up to 20 minute 5ks.

“When I run, I get in this sort of zone. I love that feeling and figured Cross Country would be a perfect place to do that,” Mowry said.

Her best time is 20:15, which is exceptional considering her age. She even runs triathlons in her free time.

“I was running the course the Saturday before the race to test out what I would do on the course and my mom stopped the clock at 20 minutes and 15 seconds,” Mowry said.

Annabella’s favorite meet location is the UF Invitational which she did for her personal record (PR) for the season. Plus, to make it even more incredible that is was the toughest course of the season for far.

It’s astounding to see someone so in love with this sport. She loves the training and believes it’s never considered of waste time nor disrupt her social life.

There is some others that love this sport also.

For instance Abigail Bowman is one of those people, Abi’s best time is 22:29. She got this record at regionals.

“The competition was better, so I knew I had to do better that day,” Bowman said

It’s exciting, your adrenalin is pumping and you’re getting exercise all at the same time. What else could you ask for?

“We are all a little family, no matter how good you are” Bowman said

Cross Country meets can range from sandy shady courses from sunny hilly ones. This sport is completely different from running on pavement.

Which  these determined Cross Country runners thought it was going to be like, she wasn’t aware that it would be so different,  considering the major differences, Annabella says “I guess you could say it impacted my life in a good way”

As you can probably see now, this sport can be life changing.