Last Thursday, Lake Forest Academy cross-country runners competed in the Independent School League (ISL) Championships, which was their most important meet of the entire season.
After a whole season of diligent practice, running over 100 miles cumulatively, the ISL race brought together student runners from different schools and required them to run three miles in total. The race was also the placement race for JV and varsity teams, making it particularly important for many runners. It was not only their ultimate race, but also an opportunity for them to reflect on how much they had improved throughout the season.
The girls’ varsity team took fourth place overall, with Abbey Welsh ‘28 finishing in seventh place, qualifying her for the All-Conference team. The girls’ JV team also beat Willows Academy out of the two teams with enough runners to qualify for a finishing place.
Both the boys’ varsity and JV teams placed third overall, with Daniel Hyde ‘29 coming in eighth, also earning him a spot on the All-Conference team.
This year’s meet was also quite special compared to previous years as it came with an unexpected challenge: the weather.
On the day of the ISL meet, the weather forecast warned that it would rain later in the afternoon. Originally, the meet was supposed to have four races separating both girls and boys into their respective junior varsity (JV) and varsity teams.
Out of concern for the student-athletes’ safety and to ensure everybody could give their best performances after a whole season, the coaches from different schools decided to combine the JV and varsity groups in order to avoid interference from the weather. Therefore, the adjustment changed the schedule from four races to two.
Even with the suboptimal weather, the students still devoted themselves fully and competed for a strong finish. They participated with full attention and tried their best to overcome the challenges.
Rachel Li ‘29, a runner on the girls’ varsity team, was among one of the many students who broke her personal record in the ISL meet.
“I was surprised that I actually felt the usual tiredness during the second lap in practice, this time during the third lap, and I am quite satisfied with my performance this time despite the slippery ground,” Li said.
Li’s experience further reflects how the placement of the race was not the only goal of the ISL meet. For many students, noticing that previously hard distances became easier can be just as rewarding as getting a high ranking. Cross-country races are not just events designed for everyone to surpass others; the students’ personal breakthroughs are equally important.
Running three miles is both a physically and mentally challenging experience. The students had to focus on their own pace with many other peers passing by from time to time, which added the pressure of competing with them.
Being able to persist throughout the process was an especially important part of the race. “Stay patient, stay consistent, and keep grinding. The results will speak for you in the future,” Albert Hou ‘28, junior captain of the boys’ varsity team, said.
Hou shared a seemingly simple but essential idea: dedicating to each practice throughout the season takes commitment. The students had to keep training every school day even if it rained, just like the day of the ISL meet. Other than the weather, they also faced occasional injuries and busy schedules that they had to balance out. Although these daily challenges felt harsh, the students witnessed noticeable improvements that made their hard work pay off in the end.
Ultimately, the ISL meet was more than just a race for better ranking. It was a chance for cross-country athletes to realize their progress after the whole season, both individually and as a team. Although the unexpected weather and schedule made the arrangement slightly different than what everyone expected, the students showed their determination after months of training. In the end, the improvements of the student-athletes were just as meaningful as the results of the meet.