Nate Trigg

With tired limbs and dripping sweat Nate Trigg and the PHS boys cross country team win third place at Pittsburg and Fourth in Ottawa meet.

Nate Trigg, senior, has been running cross country since his freshman year. Trigg is sad knowing that this is the last chance he gets to run cross country with Paola across his chest, but he plans to continue running after this season is over.

“New leaders have had to emerge on the team because we lost eight seniors last year,” said Lesley Wilson, cross country coach.

Stepping up as a leader is something that Trigg has had to do this year. Trigg says he feels the responsibility to help lead the cross country team to success and help the underclassmen get used to how high school cross country works.

Elijah Lopez, a teammate of Trigg’s, says that Trigg lightens the mood after hard workouts or rough meets by telling jokes and trying to get everyone to laugh and not be so stressed out. Trigg’s leadership from swim and how he is not afraid to step up has prepared him in being a leader.

“Cross country is challenging because it’s very hard and takes a lot of strength to be able to compete”, Trigg says.

Become a good long distance runner doesn’t happen overnight, it probably wouldn’t happen over a week. Becoming a great runner doesn’t only take talent, but it also takes lots of mental and physical training. Trigg says the most important things in being a good runner are guts , strength and determination. Without possessing these qualities the boys cross country team wouldn’t be able to compete competitively and have been able to place third at the Pittsburg meet and fourth at Ottawa. Lesley Wilson agrees with Trigg and also says that something that is really important is having self discipline and commitment. Practices are held during the summer and are vital in the success of the runners. Trigg said that he has improved since last season because of the practices over the summer and seniors like Trigg also helped underclassmen like Lopez improve.