Girls’ Cross Country Stays Ready to Win Championship

By Alexis Hall, Sports Information Director

THE BELIEF THAT “if you stay ready, you never have to get ready” embodies how championships are won. Cross Country Coach Matthew Elliott has built the program through this mindset and created consistency. And this mindset has paid off. His teams finished the fall 2021 season with:

• Girls’ team first CISAA Cross Country Championship, and girls’ and boys’ individual CISAA Championships,

• Five All-State runners and six All-Conference runners,

• A girls’ team first NCISAA Championship and a girls’ individual NCISAA Championship,

• 41 personal best times teamwide, and

• An undefeated season for the girls’ team.

“We prepared in such a way that led to good training and racing in August, September, and October, so nothing needed to be changed the week of the state meet,” explains Coach Elliott. “These student-athletes are all so smart, gifted, and wonderful people, so empowering them to take ownership of their goals and allow them to be in the driver’s seat of the program is our best pathway to success. They are more than capable; and sometimes taking a step back on my end to facilitate and be more of a guide, allowing more autonomy for the athletes, has been life-giving and life-changing for everyone involved.”

Coach Elliott oversaw not only the first championship for the girls’ cross country team at Country Day, but the first state championship program wide. This is an immense accomplishment in and of itself, but it is important to note that the NCISAA is becoming increasingly competitive. “This accomplishment shows that these girls are not only exceptional runners, but they are tremendous athletes,” Elliott said when reflecting on the skill required to be successful in this sport.

“My sense of gratitude is at an all-time high as I have a frontrow seat watching these student-athletes grow up and transform the face of our program with passion, joy, and true love for the sport and one another. The memories from this season will be instilled in my mind forever, and my hope is to foster an environment for this experience to be felt by all who join our team.

“Our seniors have set the bar so high when it comes to leadership, which has enhanced our team dynamic in so many ways, from pacing workouts to giving rides, to smoothie outings, cross-training buddies, sharing clothes, glitterthemed race accessories, and so much more. Our seniors are irreplaceable. This doesn’t mean that our underclassmen won’t shine as they do; it just means that what they have done is indescribable. Our team is forever better, our staff is forever better, and our program is forever changed because of who they are and what they have given—their whole selves.

“If you stay ready, you never have to get ready,” Coach Elliott reminds. “The point is to take care of you and, in turn, you will have the ability to take care of your team. Our girls’ team did this every minute of every hour of every day of every week and created an opportunity for each other through our sport.”