By Connor Hawthorne, Sports Editor
Most high school sports seasons are relatively predictable, but every once in a while an athlete comes along who exceeds all expectations with their unforeseen talent. Alyssa Mates, a sophomore cross country runner for River Hill, recently broke the girls cross country record at our home Invitational on September 2nd. Surprising not only herself but the entire cross country team, Alyssa finished the 5-kilometer course with a remarkable time of 18:56.
One of the most remarkable aspects is that Alyssa’s record-breaking run was her first cross country race! Last year, Alyssa attended Marriotts Ridge High School and played field hockey in the fall instead of running for cross country. Alyssa explains how “I didn’t expect much starting the season, I’m kind of new to this so I just wanted to see where I am and have fun with it.” Little did she know that her journey would lead her to rewrite River Hill’s history books.
Alyssa’s initial plan for the Top of the Hill Invitational was simple yet effective. She aimed to stay with the top pack as long as she could and hoped to outkick her competitors in the final stretch. “My plan coming in was to just stay with the top pack as long as I could and hopefully outkick them at the end,” she reflected. It was a strategy that ultimately paid off, though it was not without its challenges.
The start of the race went out at a blistering pace, as Alyssa explained how “I made the mistake of going out too fast because the people in front of me were going too fast. I should have run my own race and trusted my own pacing.” It’s a situation many runners can relate to. Alyssa described how “I didn’t have as much energy for the second and third mile where I really needed to push myself.” Despite all the training she put in preparation for the race, Alyssa explained how “most of the race is mental and you just need to push through the mental blocks because your mind limits you and if you can push past that you’ll do better.”
The critical moment came during the last half mile when an exhausted Alyssa faced the end of the race. She reveals, “The last 800 meters and the last hill of the race were really challenging because it was really steep, and I didn’t have much energy left.” Alyssa managed to overcome this obstacle by digging deep, and broke the existing record by a lone second.
When asked about her training and coaching, Alyssa expressed her appreciation for the high quality River Hill Cross Country training program. “I really enjoy training; I do my best because I want results, so I need to put in the work and work hard every day,” she said. Alyssa also credits her coaches, coach Hazzard and coach Boothe, for their support:”The coaching’s been great. I really enjoy the meet preparations sheet that helps us plan out the race, so we aren’t as stressed.” This combination of her determination and coach Hazzard’s guidance enabled her to break the school record.
For the future, Alyssa plans on more improvement with the goal of beating her own record, something she will most likely achieve as the season progresses. She reflects on her accomplishments with humility, saying, “I’m surprised, but honestly proud. I wasn’t out to break records.” However, if not this season, but certainly in the coming years, Alyssa will continue to clock great times and may just break her own record.
As Alyssa continues to set her sights on future goals, she offered some valuable advice for both current and future cross country runners. “Believe in yourself, work hard, and stay consistent.” Her advice is valuable for everyone and applicable to all pursuits, not just athletics.