Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

When I ran Cross Country back in high school I was always asked, “Why? What is the point of running and running and running?”

There is no end zone, or home plate or basket you are trying to get to, so why do it? I have never had a quick response to those questions, but I think if you asked any of the local runners who competed at state this weekend, they would probably tell you because of the challenge it provides, and the physical and mental strength you must have to succeed.

It’s hard to compare the sport to any other. Every high school football field is the same dimensions (expect for Nine-Man football). Basketball courts, tennis courts and so on are the same size wherever you go. In cross country every course is different and offers unique challenges.

Most races take place in parks or golf courses. The terrain could be grass, tar, gravel or a mixture of all three. The course could take you through a wooded area and wind you around and around, moving left and right instead of just straight ahead. Some courses are flat and fast, others may have many hills that can help the runner going down and challenge them heading up.

The area runners that competed at St. Olaf College in Northfield on Saturday had a challenge on their hands with a course that offers a little of everything. Albert Lea junior, Chrissy Monson who made her fourth straight trip to state, finished 54th this year and told the Tribune it was a challenging course but that it should be at state. Monson said the state run shouldn’t be a cake walk for anyone. You can tell Monson appreciates the challenge that the St. Olaf course offers and is ready to have another shot at it next year.

USC Senior Dylan Baumann, who was only in his second year of cross country, took 50th place in his run. NRHEG sophomore T.J. Schiltz took 89th place. Schiltz’s head coach, Mike Weber, said “The state meet is something you never see during a season as there is a mass of great runners all jockeying for position. If you get behind a team or clump of people it is very difficult to make adjustments.” Weber went on to say that Schiltz’s goal is to be back at state next season.

A big congrats to the United South Central girls’ cross country team. Waseca, Rochester Lourdes, Luverne and USC were the only teams on the girls’ side to advance from the southern half of the state. The Rebels took sixth place, and out of the five girls that scored points, only one is a senior. The other four were a junior, a sophomore, a freshman and an eighth-grader, so the future looks bright for the Rebels.

The only other sport that might be similar to cross country is golf. Every course offers different challenges. Maybe someday they will combine the two where you have to run to each shot and your score is calculated on not just your number of shots, but how long it took you. Works for me. I know it wouldn’t hurt my golf game.

 

KATE Sports Director Aaron Worm’s column usually appears each Monday in the Tribune. He can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekdays on The Breeze.