A strong “sisterhood” has formed for the Baylor School girls’ cross country team.
In a sport requiring as much mental toughness as stamina and physical ability, a senior group of leaders helps set the pace for others to follow.
“The mindset can’t be so much about training, but running your best for your teammates,” said senior Hannah Rosser, who finished 13th in the TSSAA Division II-AA state meet last fall. “They are relying on me to do my best, so it’s important to set an example for them. If I don’t do my best, I can’t expect anyone else to either.”
As Helen Webb was called on to run for the varsity program as just an eighth-grader last season, guidance from upperclassmen helped her shine right away. Webb finished third in the 2018 state race with a 5-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 4 seconds on the historic Iroquois Steeplechase Course at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park.
“My teammates took me under their wing and really inspired me to do better,” Webb said. “This year I think we are even closer, and that can help push us to a new level. They empower me and really motivate me to give it my all.”
Webb and seniors Rosser and Emmy Davis often finish within seconds of one another. Davis said it is a powerful feeling to see her teammates next to her not only in races but in workouts, too.
While Baylor strives for the program’s eighth state championship under coach Heather Ott – who has guided the Lady Red Raiders on the trails since 1990 – it is important to the runners to enjoy every mile along the way and not burn themselves out.
Senior captain Riley Murdock also has provided strong leadership for the “Big Red,” who finished third as a team at state last year.
“Relying on and being empowered by each other is something we have always tried to make a hallmark of the program,” Ott said. “The girls really buy into the sisterhood and care about one another. The younger girls aspire to run like them and with them. That’s why I think this team could be special.”
The girls know they can rely on the leadership from the top to provide a strong finish.
“We want to leave behind a good example with how you race, how you run and with our attitude,” Rosser said. “At camp I was having a lot of muscle cramps, but I kept going because there are younger girls looking up to me. It’s important to be a good role model.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.