The Hudson High School girls cross country team has been through a lot in the past year. After finishing in fourth at the Suburban League Championships on Oct. 21, 2021, and moving all the way to competing in regionals just 12 days later, this year is set to be a great season. The team has already run at three meets with many aspiring freshman runners, along with many upperclassmen continuing to race. Runners including Lena Clemens (senior), Caroline Goldslager (junior) and Vienne Batemen (freshman) have contributed to their team greatly since the start of the season.
Freshman Vienne Batemen enjoys the camaraderie that being on the team allows. “It means to me a sense of community and a bunch of friends that you can go to for advice on running and just life in general,” she explains.
Caroline Goldslager agrees. “I continue to run because of my friends.”
Running is a mentally and physically challenging sport for many. Part of the sport comes with competition and vigorous individual training, but the most important aspect is being present on the team. “I would describe running as a huge mental but also physical challenge that combines the aspects of teamwork and hard work along with putting in the work yourself,” Bateman explains. Being on a team allows for a more stress free environment. A supportive group can lead to so much more progress than a team that doesn’t encourage each other.
If you are on the girls cross country team or have interacted with them, you may know that everyone is kind. The boys and girls crew are known for having a polite and well mannered attitude when it comes to helping and encouraging others. Lena Clemens, who has been running since her seventh grade school year, says that the cross country community is very supportive. “It’s one of those sports where it’s just crazy how connected everyone can be despite coming from completely different backgrounds, friend groups and stuff like that, we always come together so nicely and all are there for each other.” The team as a whole relies on the support of others to get through almost everything. From a hard practice day in general, to a challenging meet, the encouragement of other runners and coaches is essential to the success of the group.
Caroline Goldslager has been running since her freshman year of high school. She came off an eight year streak of gymnastics and was looking for a new sport. When she joined the cross country team, she struck gold. “They’re very outgoing people … warm ups are something else, everyone is just saying how their day was, screaming about their problems, they’re very outgoing and trustworthy people,” she says. The team is a place where you can ask for advice and rant about something that has been bothering you, without worrying about being judged. Everyone there knows that life can be hard, just like running is, and gives advice that they hope will help. Everyone caring for everyone creates a perfect balance of an athletic, competitive atmosphere with a supportive, caring and motivational undertone.
Cross country can also help boost self confidence and leadership skills. Joining the team for the first time is never easy, especially if you have never run before. You just have to trust your body and take the time to get faster. “You have to trust yourself because I dropped time the second time I ran a two mile. I got a 13:30, you just have to trust yourself and trust what you can do.” Clemens reminds people that she did not start out as the runner she is today. It takes time and practice and discipline to get better. She also explains that running helps a lot of people with their body image. “It’s amazing seeing people become so much more confident in their bodies because of running and feeling like they’re helping their bodies out and keeping them fit.” Leadership, for many different sports, including cross country, falls on the seniors and varsity players. Although there is a lot of influence that comes from seniors, other girls always help out and increase the quality of friendship throughout the team. “It’s one of those sports where everyone is a leader. Like not just varsity, not just the seniors, everyone has a role on the cross country team to be a leader and to work as a team. [Because] You can’t be selfish and just go in for yourself because it’s one of those sports where it’s all team oriented so you kinda have to go into it and learn how to become more of a team player,” says Clemens.
At the end of the day, the Hudson High School Girls Cross Country team carries itself with kindness, respect and a sense of diverse community that other sports may not be able to relate to. Batemen expresses her view of the team as a mishmash of different personalities all blended together perfectly. “The cross country team has so many personalities but somehow they blend together so well and I feel like if they were the same it would just be so boring.”
The team’s willingness to persevere through anything that comes their way, from a small invitational to an important postseason race, shows the true connectoin of the team. They will end their season in the middle of October and might continue to the postseason, depending on their performances in the next couple of meets. Lena Clemens, who is currently recovering from an injury, is looking to run in college next year and coach at her favorite cross country camp, while Caroline Goldslager wants to run as a senior, and then continue to run with her friends amd in clubs when she gets to college. Along those same lines, Vienne Batemen aims to run throughout her high school years and extend her career to the future by running with friends. Leadership skills, social skills, confidence, friendship and trustworthiness are just some of many qualities that many girls on the cross country team have. Its atmosphere allows for everyone to feel safe and comfortable, ensuring an amazing team.
