Over 200 female runners line up at the starting line, all wrestling to get a head start. Kendall Cloar was cramped, nervous, and had never been in a crowded running environment until her first cross country meet at War Memorial during her freshman season. Now in her senior year, Cloar said running has provided the “perfect escape” that helps her balance school and personal life. 

 “I think Central is a very academic environment. There’s a lot of focus on doing well in your classes and having extracurriculars,” Cloar said. 

She promotes running as a sport that anyone can do, advocating for kids without an athletic background to try it out. Since it’s an individual sport, Cloar said the requirements are just to be willing to dedicate yourself to practice. 

“Running is a good outlet, especially [because it is] such a personalized sport. It’s something you can do for yourself and your body, because you really do need to take good care of yourself,” Cloar said.

The cross country team has grown since last season. Returning and new athletes hope to build bonds between their teammates that was not possible in years prior, including junior, Zora Gorrepati, an athlete since her freshman year.

The cross country team prepared for the season by running laps around the school’s track, and began racing Sept. 7. Older members like Cloar hope to set a good example for the new members. She wants to guide and support them during their first season, while her final one comes to a close.

“I would definitely say it’s bittersweet,” Cloar said. “I can always look back at my time on the cross country team and have good memories of running in my high school years.”