2021 Varsity Cross Country

In the fall of 2021, Walker’s cross country team enjoyed a season of success, both on the team and individual level. With a return to competition following the restrictions of 2020, Walker’s kicked off its first meet of 2021 with a 23-32 win over Miss Hall’s. Over the next two months, team members dedicated their training to improving their speed, endurance, and strength. Our runners achieved personal bests in the weeks that ensued, with a culmination of eight PRs during the last two meets of the season: Founder’s League at Loomis Chaffee and the New England Championships in Carlisle, MA.

At the New England Championship meet, four runners had their fastest times ever, two finished in the top ten overall of their wave, and one runner, Kate Samson ‘23, shaved more than nine minutes off of her 5k time from the start of the season. These results reflect the dedication and hard work of each athlete.

Seventh grader Claire Furia ‘27 proved once again to be a rising star, consistently finishing first or second place for our team. First-time team member Lucia Morales ‘25 also emerged as a consistent top finisher, as did co-captain and three-year team veteran, Hailey Nims ’22.

While advancing their athletic skills, our team also developed a sense of camaraderie and an appreciation for working collectively toward a common goal. As our runners participated in early-, mid-, and late-season 5k time trials on campus, each athlete celebrated one another’s progress and took pride in everyone’s remarkable improvement.

This sport is about so much more than running. By season’s end, our athletes got to experience goal-setting, the pursuit of progress, practicing resilience, and realizing one’s capacity for exceeding expectations through hard work, patience, and cooperation.