Written by Siya Maheshwari
Edited by Dave Gagnier   

This year's APAC girls Cross Country team proved that reliance and teamwork can overcome any challenge. Despite missing some of their top runners due to sicknesses before the competition, the girls' team pushed through and delivered an impressive performance where two of the girls placed in the top 10 out of 70! 

"We went into the tournament knowing that not all of our top seven runners could come," said Katherine, a junior at SFS and one of the team's veteran runners. "That made us nervous, but it also motivated us to give it everything we had—for ourselves and for the team."

Even though a few teammates were sick and couldn't make the trip, the rest of the team ran with them in mind. Before the races, the team would share a short devotional that made a lasting impact throughout the race. This encouragement inspired the players to dedicate each kilometer to something important to them. "It gave our runs more meaning," Katherine said. "I think it really helped us stay focused and grounded."

The girls also had to deal with surprises. "We were told the course was flat, but it turned out to have way more hills than we expected—and we didn't even get a walkthrough," Katherine laughed. "But we adjusted and just ran our best."

What stood out most was the support the runners showed one another through each other's races. "Cross-country might seem like an individual sport, but it's really about the team," as Katherine said. "One person's performance doesn't define the group—it's about everyone giving their best."

Through every hill and setback, the girls' team proved what it means to run as one and finish as a family.