STUDENT LIFE I I TERNATIO AL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADER HIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIO S THE RACE IS HALF THE DISTANCE Cross country runners grew together on and off the trail. The men's and women's cross country teams strove to form close bonds between teammates during the season. These close relationships were the backbone of the teams. While the men's and women's teams typically did not train together at practices, they worked out together, encouraged each other and rode together to meets. At the beginning of every season, the two teams attended a retreat at Perie Jean State Park. The retreat helped the teammates grow closer to one another and fostered good sportsmanship between the teams. Sophomore David Reed found that the experience helped him build strong relationships wich his teammates. "The first night, we sat around the fire, both the men's and womens teams, and people vulnerably shared about tough situations that had occurred in their [lives]," Reed said. "This kind of vulnerable community is a good representation of the dynamic between the two teams." Reed was happy to join a team that made him feel at home. "As a freshman, I was welcomed with open arms by the older guys on the team which made the transition to college training and mileage much more doable," Reed said. "Some of the workouts and things we do JuniorParker Fane rounds the corner at the 2018 Great American Conference CrossCountry Championship on Nov. 3, 2018, at Southern Nazarene University. The women's team finished second in the meet with sophomore Alicja Minczuk, freshmen Sydney Tabor and Sharon Chepseba, and sophomore Kinga Szarzynska placing in the top 20 in the race. I photo courtesy of Mike Knox Junior Kaylee Rice and sophomore Sydney Sanders lead a pack ofrunners at the 2018 Great American Conference Cross Country Championship on Nov. 3, 2018, at SouthernNazarene University. The women's team moved on to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. I photo courtesy of Mike Knox Freshmen Hosea Kiptoo andArdison Kipchirchir run together past the three-mile mark at the 2018 Great American Conference Cross Country Championship on Nov. 3, 2018, at Southern Nazarene University. junior Bartek Kwiecinski, who led Harding in all three of its races, was forced to pull out of the race due to an injury. I photo courtesy of Mike Knox are incredibly hard, but the fact that we are all in it together as a team makes it seem possible." Junior Camden Barrett saw how the teams became closer over the years. "I have had the privilege of experiencing a really close-knit team and have experienced a not so close one," Barrett said. "This team is so young that we are currently in a building stage where we are trying to develop a close-knit cohesive group." In addition to the team retreat, upperclassmen "adopted" freshmen, meaning that two to three upperclassmen took a freshman under their wing and helped them ease into life at Harding. Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Steve Guymon felt this "adoption" process was one of the most important things his team did to form lasting bonds. "I think it helps a lot," Guymon said. "It helps them feel wanted right away, and it makes them feel like they're a part of a group." The upperclassmen and freshmen pairings held each ocher accountable and pushed each other to achieve personal goals. "I knew that if we were going to have the type of team and program that we want, I needed to have the team involved," Guymon said. "We want to see them succeed." story by Erin Slomers 224
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