Most sports revolve around a field, ball, or court. In the sport of cross country, athletes only do one thing: run.
When thinking of a running sport, the first that may come to mind is track and field. Surprisingly, the two sports have their fair share of differences. In high school track and field, athletes compete in a variety of events ranging from the 100-meter dash to longer distance races such as the 3k. In cross country, all runners compete in the same race, the 5k, though some courses may feature shorter distances like two or three miles. Another key difference is the setting: track races take place on a uniform track, while cross country courses feature varying terrain such as hills, dirt, grass, or even concrete. But why choose cross country if distance and setting are the only changes?
Austin Butler, a sophomore at James Campbell High School is in his second year of Cross Country. While he originally joined the sport because of peer pressure from a friend who never ended up showing, Butler said, “I actually turned out to like it a lot, way more than I thought I would.” He sees running cross country as an opportunity to condition and prepare himself for track season, where he competes in the 400, 800, 4×4, and 4×8. He also believes the team dynamic feels different: in cross country, everyone runs the same race and trains together, which builds a stronger sense of unity.
In the end, cross country isn’t just about running a set distance on rough terrain. It’s about discipline, teamwork, and finding enjoyment in pushing one’s body farther than possible.
Next meet is at the Waipio Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park at 8:30am for the O’ahu Interscholastic Association Regional Division.
