After pushing past Regionals and Sectionals, the entire boys team and girls runner Ellary Blakey (12) advanced to state. With a spot secured, the runners were now ready for the journey to a famous course renowned by many cross-country enthusiasts: Detweiller Park, which is a natural beauty located in Peoria, Illinois. This course is a prime spot to showcase one’s running talent and has hosted the cross-country state meet since 1970.
The Tigers received a congratulatory sendoff through the school, led by the Marching Tiger Drum Line. Cheering students and teachers lined the halls throughout the hallways, and the cheer and flag teams lined the pathway to the bus. The bus ride was peaceful, and many spent their time sleeping or playing games. As they arrived in Peoria, the team stopped at the course for one last practice, a typical tradition for runners who compete at larger meets. For dinner, the team carbo-loaded (a term used to describe a runner’s need for high levels of healthy carbs before a race) at Avanti’s Italian restaurant. They then settled at the hotel, where a night of needed rest was awaiting them.
The next morning, Nov. 9, was upon them, and the day the runners had been training for all season finally arrived. They ate the hotel breakfast and headed to the course shortly after. The weather was overcast, although the chance of rain had become minimal for the day. Before long, it was time for the pre-race “rituals” to commence, which kicked off with a brief bathroom stop and light warm-up run. From there, runners prepare for the race in different ways, with some praying, listening to music, stretching, resting, and many other methods. The team lounged at the Herrin tent until Coach Elliott gave the command to head to the starting line.
Once there, they proceeded to check in with the race officials and began to stretch. The team did some run-outs from the starting line and received a motivational talk from their three coaches, who emphasized the significance of the state appearance by the Tigers and encouraged them to push through one more race.
It was soon after Coach Mallow’s motivational speech that the pouring of rain caused a stir at the starting line, but that didn’t stifle the runners’ motivation. Before long, the race was in the hands of the starter, and as she held up the gun, the atmosphere became tense, almost eerily in some way. It was as if time momentarily froze, with the runners in their starting positions. The sound of beating hearts and surging adrenaline was deafening, and the constant sound of pouring rain only added to the suspenseful environment. The course, now marked with patches of mud, was calling the name of the runners about to trample all over its path. The roaring wind halted, and finally, with a bang, the starter pulled the gun’s trigger, and the runners were off. The screaming of spectators and fans once again grew, and the race was a grueling three miles of exhausting pain, strategic moves, and team motivation.
Ultimately, The Tigers crossed the finish line with excitement and exhilarating speed. Our best runner for the boys, Nolen Frost (10), finished 71st out of 236 runners with a time of 15:34.20. Closely behind him were Mason King (11) and Braden Davis (11) finishing with times of 15:52 and 15:57.10 respectively. Then came Noah Coleman (12), who placed 187th with a time of 16:31, and Maddox Burks (11) who placed 192nd with a time of 16:34.20. Waylon Hall (12) finished strongly with a 212th place finish and a time of 16:34.20. Sam Jolliff (11) concluded the Herrin boys runners, placing 230th with a time of 17:27.50. Representing the Herrin girls’ team, Ellary Blakey finished 75th out of 243 runners with a time of 18:46.59.
The team was proud of how they did overall, and Nolen Frost, Mason King, Braden Davis, and Maddox Burks all ran personal bests. Ultimately, the runners are optimistic about their future. As they departed Detweiller Park, the team reflected on the memories made over the season, the continuation of success, and ways to improve for next year.
Cross Country is a mentally and physically draining sport that tests one’s breaking points in several areas. Commitment in this sport is a key factor to success, as runners they must show their commitment to their teammates and coaches daily through consistent training. Cross Country also tests a runner’s dedication to train independently during the weekend and give their all at every single meet. Runners must utilize their determination as a motivator for success, pushing through the pain and exhaustion of a grueling season, ultimately defeating rival schools.
This year, our Herrin High Cross Country Team ultimately had one objective in mind: to qualify for the IHSA Cross Country State Meet. This achievement was no easy feat, especially in 2A, where competing schools had enrollments close to three times that of Herrin. Despite this, the challenge only made our runners push even further by increasing their weekly mileage and adding intensity to their workouts. Nolen Frost commented about the hurdles saying that the team “had a few injuries which initially hurt our motivation but we were able to push past it and we ultimately did well”.
While the team is losing four seniors, the rest of the team is determined to continue improving so that the cross-country program can continue to thrive.
The cross-country runners at Herrin High all agree the team is like family, where runners and coaches support and encourage each other, lifting each other through the pain. They are all motivated by their collective desire to win and are inspired by the iconic words of Coach Mallow: “Winning is good.”
