Running cross country has brought junior Nick King great improvement as a runner and as a student.
“It takes a lot of effort, but working hard gives a benefit that you can apply to anything else you do,” King said. “That level of effort and determination can really help you improve in life.”
The same lessons King has learned in cross country, he applies to his everyday life. Giving his best effort to improve motivates Nick to keep working hard.
“I really liked pushing myself and doing the work to get better,” King said.
With all the work King has put in, he has seen his times on the cross country course improve drastically.
“I started with a 35 minute 5K and I’ve cut that down by at least 15 minutes, so its about a 20 now. My mile time has almost cut in half, I’m down to a 5:33 from about a 10:30,” King said.
Not only has Nick noticed a change in his performance, but so have his teammates. Junior Alex Lanson says that King has become a much better runner over the course of his cross country career.
“One time I was falling behind in a race, and Bergeron yelled to me ‘Come on, you’re running with Nick King’ but now Nick is a serious competitor,” Lanson said.
King’s teammates say he has blossomed into a talented runner and an even better teammate.
“Nick’s a great teammate. He always cheers everyone on,” Lanson said. “He pushes me because I know he’s right behind me pushing for my spot on varsity.”
Cross country has helped Nick not only as a runner but also as a scholar. Some students find school very stressful, and running helps King relax and stay focused.
“School, practice, come home and you’re exhausted, and it’s really hard to work,” King said.
To keep himself awake, King often runs after school outside of cross country practice and meets. This way, he will be able to focus on his schoolwork before he goes to sleep.
“That really helps with homework because otherwise it’s easy to fall asleep while you’re working,” King said.
King finds motivation to work hard from his mom, history teacher Dr. Susan King.
“It’s like having a really big locker,” King said. “I don’t mind having my mom close by. It’s not awkward or anything.”
Another source of motivation are King’s teammates. The cross country team members have grown very close over the course of their season, and they push each other to compete at a high level. Junior Mike Conger is thankful for the
relationships he has made through the cross country team.
“Cross country for me has really introduced me to some new friends, some really nice people,” Conger said.
