The science of speed
Northview High School's cross country team show that cross country is more than just running
Photo: Dennis Ommert
Ansh Vigh, Sports Editor & Olivia Ma, Staff Writer
The crowd holds its breath as the crack of the pistol signals the beginning of the race. The roar is deafening as Northview High School's cross country runners take off with one goal in mind—taking the win home. For them, cross country is not just about a medal; their passion originates from the community they made instead.
The driving force behind Northview cross country is head coach Michaela Davis, a competitive runner of eight years. She has received recognition from various collegiate governing bodies such as the Division II Athletics Directors Association and the Peach Belt Conference. She is also an alumnus of Northview's cross country and track and field programs, where she learned that strength lies in team spirit. She believes a team that works well together wins together.
"Every other Thursday, the team does a team bonding practice where they're getting a total amount of mileage in, but they do a water balloon fight," Davis said. "They do something fun that they enjoy doing together."
These activities are incorporated into the team's weekly routines, pushing the runners to grow in multiple fields. When they take time to come together, they learn how to communicate, support each other, and recover from any setbacks as a team. Given cross country's intense training schedule, this is crucial.
"On Mondays and Tuesdays, we meet after school and go for some runs. On Wednesdays, we get to the track at 6 a.m., stay until about 7:30 a.m., and they do pacing repeats around the track," Davis said. "It'll be a half mile, a mile, a quarter mile; just stuff that lets you practice your speed."
Northview’s runners are persistent and motivated, treating every practice as an opportunity to grow. For senior runner and varsity captain Devin Wilson, cross country has been transformative both on and off the track.
"I think it's been a life-changing experience," Wilson said. "I think running has helped me not only physically, but in all areas of my life, and in becoming a better person. It's kind of given me a second family as well."
Wilson has been an active member of the cross country team for three years, where he has consistently led the team and won multiple awards, such as the Arete Award for "Male on the Rise" and 2 Scholar-Varsity certificates. Through his hard work and dedication to the sport, he has become part of a team and a community. When asked about his favorite part of cross country, Wilson didn't hesitate.
"Probably the people," he said. "It's a place I can go to after school to have fun and get exercise."
True to Wilson's words, Northview's program goes beyond athletic training. For students, having a consistent community outside of school is the foundation of new friendships and experiences. The team builds this through organized bonding activities. These events include: water balloon fights, pasta parties, coffee after morning runs, and even parties or get-togethers at multiple members' houses. This feeling of community not only helps runners excel in their sport but also gives them a space to feel connected and valued.
The team is also supported by assistant coach Stephanie Rogman, who has been coaching for 8 years. She started running over twenty years ago and believes that it has had a huge impact on her life.
"I think the most memorable part is seeing progress in the runners starting in August and then [seeing them] by the end of the season," Rogman said. "And I'm very proud of their commitment and dedication."
Coach Rogman has been guiding Northview's athletes for eight years, watching generation after generation of cross country runners compete, succeed, and move on to the next stage of their lives. She finds the greatest reward in progress, which represents the enthusiasm and hard work each kid puts in.
"They have some great energy, very committed, and amazing bonds with each other. They're just an all-around remarkable group," Rogman said.
With coaches who value growth over medals, and runners who treat each other like family (and sometimes rivals in water balloon fights), Northview's cross country program proves that there's more to the sport than running laps and chasing records. It's about the discipline to show up every day, the endurance to strive through it all, and the relationships built along the way that make cross country not just another sport, but a family at Northview.
