Bishop Carroll’s Brooke Martin Cheney High’s Taelyn Hoch

By Hayden Swope

“There are a lot of very talented runners in Wichita, so being chosen to be one of the athletes in the magazines has given me more confidence for the season,” Martin said.

Martin has been doing everything she can to prepare herself and her team for the upcoming season.

“I’ve been conditioning throughout the summer, eating right, hydrating, and doing everything I can to give 100 percent at practice every day,” Martin said. “I’ve been improving my mental strength by visualizing, remembering my accomplishments, and working with my coaches and mentors.”

While preparing her times for the upcoming season, Martin has also been working on the leadership role she will get to step into this year.

“This season I have big goals for myself as far as improving my time, but I also want to become the best teammate I can be, especially to the new members of our team,” Martin said.

While undecided on her future, Martin has a few ideas of what she would like to do after high school, including to continue to run.

“I am still deciding on my future plans for college and my career,” Martin said. “Right now I am interested in interior design. I would love to run in college for a Division 1 school with cooler weather than Kansas.”

By Hayden Swope

Taelyn Hoch, from Cheney, was voted a Girls Cross Country Poll Winner. Hoch placed sixth at the league meet last season.

“I am very excited and honored to be voted the cross country poll winner for Vype,” Hoch said.

Hoch and the Cardinals had a strong season last year, and again have high expectations for the season.

“Our team got fifth at state last year and we didn’t lose any seniors,” Hoch said. “We added a couple freshmen to our team, so we are hoping to finish even higher this year. I’m hoping to place in the top twenty this year at state.”

Hoch has prepared for the season running when she could, and has been improving her motivation over the offseason.

“I never ran in the offseason until last winter, before my freshman year of track,” Hoch said. “So I think that helped improve me in the last year. I have struggled to stay motivated while running during the season, but some of the upperclassmen who also did cross country helped inspire me.”

Hoch is also involved in track and choir at Cheney, and already has her future planned out for after high school.

“I am planning to go to college and become an officer in the Coast Guard,” Hoch said.