Senior Raymond Stack remembers the enjoyment he felt sprinting alongside his friend to finish his final race of this past cross country season.

According to Stack, he began running because it looked like a good way to clear his mind.  

“When you get tired from working out I just feel like you think a lot clearer,” Stack said. “It’s real easy to let the day go while running.”

Stack said he joined the cross country team this past season, making him one of the oldest runners and a new addition to the team.

“You don’t generally join a sport your last year of high school. I was just really nervous because I was a new member on the team, but also one of the oldest, so that felt kind of weird,” Stack said.

Cross country head coach Rachel Hoffman said Stack’s self-confidence grew throughout the season.

“We always tell the runners, if you can get through a season of cross country running, you can do anything,” Hoffman said.

Stack said his experience with cross country has increased his discipline as a person.

“Before the team I had been trying to work out but I hadn’t been able to keep to a schedule and being part of a team really helped me with that,” Stack said.  

According to Stack, his motivation toward running has also impacted his motivation in school.

“Being motivated to stick to a schedule and do my workouts also helped me stick to a schedule and do my homework a lot more,” Stack said.

Hoffman said Stack contributed to the team through his upbeat personality.

“For a first-year runner to come and give all they had, certainly rubbed off on the team,” Hoffman said.

Stack said when the end of a race approached, he put forth all his effort to cross the finish line.

“Whenever I knew that I was close to the finish line, I really gave it my all. There are always races where you don’t run so great and maybe you didn’t do your best, but I remember always when I came to the sprint, even if I was tired, I did my best. I really enjoyed that,” Stack said.