As we enter the fall sports championship season, most teams come to a close. Cross country has decided to expand their season by attending the Nike Cross Regionals meet in Sioux City, South Dakota. After a year of dedication and perseverance, the athletes have turned their dreams into reality by showcasing their talent in a sport that often goes unnoticed. Nike Cross Regionals is a national high school meet with runners from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin competing. Junior Landon Aschentrop has stepped up his game this season and wants to further his running career by going to this event. Although the whole cross country team will not be participating in this event, the team cheers on the athletes who chose to attend. 

“I want to go to this race because it gives me an opportunity to get better at what I love to do as well as bond and have fun with my teammates,” Aschentrop said.  

While the stakes are high and the competition is fierce at the Nike Cross Regionals meet, Aschentrop remains focused on enjoying the experience and cherishing the time with his teammates above all else. 

“I definitely want to run my best race I can to end this season but my main goal is just to feel good while running this race,” he said. “This means I have to be well prepared for the race by eating well the morning of and the day before, making sure to stay hydrated the whole trip and also trying to get enough sleep the night before the race is also key.” 

As the meet is the weekend of November 9th-10th, the cross country team embodies determination and teamwork to prepare themselves to make their mark in South Dakota.