As the cross country season is coming to an end, I had an opportunity to interview three members of the team and coach, Jayden Coon, Tyler DeMain, Kenzie McCormick, and Coach Grow. We talked about rituals, the review of the season, and how they improved.
Runner Tyler DeMain is a junior in high school. I asked Tyler about his mentality when he runs. He shared, “Have fun because at the end of the day it makes you healthier and more fit.”
Tyler’s goal for this season is to run three miles in under 24 minutes. Tyler mostly improved his speed and stamina from last year’s track season and hopes that they will keep growing over time. Tyler believes that sprinting the track is the hardest thing about running cross country because it’s very tiring and takes a lot of self dedication. On days Tyler doesn’t have practice he likes to relax at home or he runs around Lowellville.
Jayden Coon, a freshman, has been running cross country since 7th grade. The reason he is running cross country is so he can stay in shape for basketball season. I asked Jayden how he maintains his focus while running. He said, “I always want to beat the guy in front of me, no matter the distance.”
Jayden’s goal this year is to make regionals as a freshman. When Jayden doesn’t have practice he tries to get a good run around the village of Lowellville. Jayden’s improvement from last season is his first mile time. He believes that the hardest part of doing cross country is getting into running.
Kenzie McCormick is a senior in high school. Kenzie says the hardest thing about cross country is the mental aspect of it because you are always in your own head. One of the reasons Kenzie runs is because she has always been around racing culture because her parents were both runners. Her goal this season is to have fun and make the most out of her senior year. I asked Kenzie what her mentality is while running. She said, “Whenever I’m running I try to be thankful that I can run. I also try to focus on the scene around me to take my mind off the tiredness and remember that running is good for me.”
Coach Grow has been part of the cross country family for five years now. Coach Grows said, “The most exciting part about being a coach is to see an athlete reach a goal they didn’t think was possible.”
I asked Coach Grow how he prepares students for the races. He responded, “We focus on mentally, physically, and emotionally preparing our athletes. Physically we zone in on our diet by eating proper food and consuming enough water throughout the week to allow bodies to be prepared for the next week. Mentally we prepare by telling the athletes to get enough sleep at night and coming to the race with a clear mindset. Emotionally as a coach, I try to make cross country a positive environment to keep the stress levels low and their self esteem high.”
Coach Grow’s favorite coaching memory is going to state these past couple of years because it was a new experience for some of the athletes and the intensity levels were higher. Coach Grows expectations next year are high. He wants the boys’ team to compete for regionals for the first time in school history.
