Both Logansport cross country teams traveled to Hamilton Heights on Oct. 11 to race at the Hoosier Conference meet. Apart from Logansport, eight other high schools attended the meet: Benton Central, Hamilton Heights, Lafayette Central Catholic, Rensselaer Central, Tipton, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette and Western.
While at the meet, sophomore Alette Woodhouse placed third and broke the Logansport High School girls 5K record with a time of 19:24, which also placed her in the all-conference. Junior Katelynn Spradling placed 17th and also made all-conference. The girls varsity came in fourth place with a score of 102. Boys varsity came in ninth place with a score of 217. The girls junior varsity came in second place with a score of 48, while boys junior varsity came in third place with a score of 91.
Woodhouse detailed how it felt finding out that she set a new school record and how her race went.
“It was honestly such a surreal experience,” Woodhouse said. “Setting the record had been a thought in my mind, but I wasn’t expecting an almost 30-second breakthrough at the conference. I’m so grateful, regardless of the surprise. The moments after the race with my coaches were unforgettable.”
Woodhouse also credited her teammates for her success and gave them praise.
“I’m also so blessed to have the best teammates,” Woodhouse said. “ I wasn’t the only one to have a successful race, so it was fun to celebrate with each other.”
With this being one of the bigger meets of the season, Woodhouse discussed how she handled the pressure alongside her teammates.
“I have always felt a little anxious before all of my races,” Woodhouse said. “Although this is my fifth year running, I’ve gotten some experience handling the nerves. Some days are worse than others, but my team normally has a group prayer before heading to the line. Overall, I think that’s what has helped the best when handling the pressure.”
While the conference meet brought out personal records for both teams, it also marked the end of the regular varsity season and the junior varsity season entirely. Freshman Kaled Hernandez tells how he handled his race, knowing it was his last and had something to leave on the course.
“I pushed myself harder to beat some of my teammates,” Hernandez said. “My original goal was to pace myself with Eric since he was someone that I felt I had to beat because I was once ahead of him. But, later in the season, he would beat me.”
Hernandez also stated how he felt knowing it was his last meet of the season.
“Knowing that conference would be my last meet made me feel a little disappointed,” Hernandez said. “I knew that I would have to prove myself to be a part of the varsity team next year.”
Although emotions were mixed, knowing it was the last meet of the season for junior varsity, senior Saylor McClain expressed the value of having teammates and a team that supports each other in every moment.
“I think it’s really comforting knowing that for every bad meet or bad practice, I always had a shoulder to lean on,” McClain said. “I’ve been in cross country since my freshman year, and I have never been treated with anything other than kindness and sportsmanship.”
With the aspect of a team and teammates who encourage each other, junior Eli Schurter recognized that, in cross country, your efforts will always continue improving.
“That’s the beauty of cross country,” Schurter said. “Long after the season is over, there’s always next time. You don’t need a court or a field. You just need you. In cross country, there is always next time.”
