South women’s cross country team works hard and finishes 10th at state.

This year was a big success for South Eugene’s cross country teams, and the women’s team specifically saw huge growth from the previous season. In the 2023 cross country season South’s women’s team faced many injuries that set them back right before competing in the state championships, leading them to a season finish at 15th in state. However, the team had bigger plans to achieve a better result than the previous season’s disappointing finale, and they followed through. 

In the 2023 state final, South Eugene’s highest individual athlete ranking was then-junior Elizabeth McCart, who placed 31st. McCart was also the only South runner from the women’s team to place within the top 100 at state that season. Despite a challenging end to the season, McCart maintains it was the most fun she’s ever had at a state championship race. 

“Last year was the most fun I ever had at state. There were a lot of fun people, and all the seniors were energetic,” McCart said. However, she didn’t deny that there was a lack of full focus from the team as a whole. 

“The  [seniors] were good runners, but they were dedicated to a lot of other things,” she recalled. 

This season, McCart and the rest of the cross country team were determined to show their dedication to running throughout the season and display their endless hard work all the way through the state championship. 

This year, South’s women’s cross country team increased their state ranking by five places as they finished the 2024 season in 10th place overall in Oregon. Along with this jump in statewide team rankings, now senior Elizabeth McCart finished within the top 20 athletes, and South had over five athletes finish within the top 100. It’s very clear based on the stats alone that the team was not about to let injuries throw them off course again. 

“We did a lot better of doing strength training and watching out for injuries this season,” McCart said. McCart also credits the level of motivation from the South cross country teams throughout the season as she referred to their team mantra, “lock o’clock,” which helped build a mindset of being communally locked in and focused, both in and out of practice time. 

Along with strength training, keeping up their physical health, and creating a locked in mindset, junior Madi Zemper-Prill recalled the team energy that allowed for so much growth this year. 

“The girls team is a lot more united this year, everyone feels like one big community,” Zemper-Prill said, “and it’s fun to be able to bring in freshmen and make them a part of that community.” 

The women’s cross country team’s growth from last season to this season is undeniably immense and very impressive, but it’s also undeniable that each athlete put in tons of time and effort to create a community and team that was able to show such outstanding growth so fast.

Article by Maggie McMillen