Two of the LWHS Varsity Cross Country team seniors sat down to reflect on the past season. Here is what they had to say on the season highlights, favorite things about the team and what made the team so good.
A quick word with LWHS Varsity Women’s Cross Country team captain Kaira Shlipak ’22:
Odin Marin: What were the highlights of the season for you? What made the season?
Kaira Shlipak: NCS and State, because for State we all go to Fresno together. We arrive at 3 p.m. and then do the course run together as a team. Then we go to a pasta dinner and we all hang out at night, so it’s a really fun bonding experience. Going to the state meet is crazy because there are so many people.
Also, the pumpkin run is a run we do in October where we run to the pumpkin patch by Stern Grove and we buy tons of pumpkins and run them back to Lick to carve them.
Then there’s also the Slurpee run. We run to
Seven-Eleven and we drink Slurpees and then we run back. The boys all race back to see who after chugging a Slurpee can get back first.
photo courtesy of Varsity Cross Country
OM: What about the team has stayed the same since your freshman year? What makes it so special?
KS: One of the best things about cross country is the traditions. I remember my freshman year we did the pumpkin run, we did the Slurpee run. Instead of being a freshman looking up to the seniors now, I’m a senior and it’s really fun to just make sure that the freshmen feel the same way that I did when I was a freshman. I remember
feeling so special when the seniors would say hi to me in the halls and talk to me about my day. So just making sure to continue that — that’s what’s really special. I feel like we’re all close no matter what grade we’re in. The team environment has pretty much stayed the same.
OM: What’s been the hardest thing about the season?
KS: It’s hard to go through a long day of school and no matter what, I have to run an intense workout or recovery run. As a captain, you always have to make sure that the slower people can stay up to pace and that you’re not losing people. We go off-campus and have to run in sketchy streets sometimes.
Also just dealing with the fact that you’re not always going to have the perfect race. But even if you don’t run well personally, it’s more about the team. I’ve felt disappointed when I don’t run as well but I try to remember that it’s a team sport. It’s more of a team sport than people realize. I think that one of the hardest things about States is that we’d been winning all season so it was a little disappointing that we got second. Instead of focusing on the loss, we’re trying to think about all the good things that happened in the season. We all worked super hard this whole year.
OM: What’s something that makes the team so successful?
KS: I think that it’s the pack running, the teamwork. A lot of teams focus a lot on the individuals but, in reality, all the scoring is based on running as a pack. We run together, we train together, we work out together, and then in the races, we know how to work with each other to be the best. It’s not about having one runner upfront, it’s about having a lot of runners that can push each other to get the top spots.
I also think that because we’re such a close team we all want to try our best for each other. We want to do well for the team, not just for our own benefit. If everyone tries hard for each other, then you’re going to have better results.”
OM: What will you miss most about the team?
KS: I’m going to miss so much — like having all of my close friends to hang out with after school, the singing and dancing around the track, the traditions, and the close community finishing a race and having a bunch of people hug and congratulate me. It’s a very supportive environment and it’s very special. So it’s sad to leave.
A quick word with LWHS Men’s Varsity Cross Country runner Alex Mader ’22:
photo courtesy of Varsity Cross Country
Odin Marin: What was the highlight of the season for you?
Alex Mader: It was definitely State. Winning State was awesome. That was a goal for the last two years — we had been building towards it and to see it come together was really cool. That was one of the best running moments I’ve ever had.
OM: What makes the team so successful?
AM: I think the success is due to its culture and a lot of long-term planning. Running is not a sport where you can practice hard for a month or two and be good. You have to work years and years to get to a point where you can win State. Multiple training cycles. It’s a lot of dedication. These guys really want it. We’re willing to put the work in. We’re willing to plan and dedicate ourselves to multiple seasons.
OM: What’s something you’ll miss most about the program?
AM: I’ll miss the guys. I love running. It’s such a great team. I’m gonna miss them a lot. Coming to school every day and seeing the guys and being able to work with them.
The culture rebuild of the team is awesome so it’s going to be a self-sustaining cycle of success.
