Run It or A X-Country Success

Aimee Bench  

 

Go out and run a few miles in pouring rain and spashing mud everyday as hard as you can for a few months. Even then, you still might not know what it's like to run cross-country for Timpanogos High School.  

"This year has been the hardest working team we've ever had, who I've also worked the hardest. The results are paying off that come from that hard work," says head coach Jody Benson. The girls' and boys' teams have won a collective nine trophies and plaques before they even attended the state meet. 

The team has participated in many invitational meets, such as the UVU invitational, where the girls took second out of 35 schools from Utah and Wyoming, and the boys placed third overall. Senior Dane Smith loves the "tradition, spirit and honor" of cross-country. The team certainly has a great tradition, since so many runners have returned this season as well as the great success they've had in the past.  

Region was held at Pleasant Grove High on Oct. 11, where the boys and girls teams both took second overall. The American Fork Cavemen won both first place titles. Coach Benson said the team had some injuries and sicknesses that kept it from being closer. While the team might have taken second, senior Brooke Hodson finished behind no one. "I slipped and fell down coming down the hill.  It was like gymnastics, but it was fun out there," Brooke said after she won. Senior Suzie Sorenson took third place in the same race.

Another individual first place came on the boys' team with junior Matt Liddle edging out a Lone Peak runner. "I felt good and was able to pass (American Fork) and hit my stride. The past two years, Timpanogos runners have won at region, so I couldn't let them down."

Whether for the pure love of running or just having fun with friends, cross-country is a great way to stay in shape and have fun competing. Brooke loves cross-country because of "the people, Jody, running in the mud and rain, and acting crazy." The Timpanogos team has fun winning and performing at their best at all of the meets through their hard work.  

Senior Holly Burr said, "I love doing something I love with the people I love."