After finishing just outside the medal stand at last year’s Class 2A state cross country meet, Clifton-Clyde senior Cohen Girard is entering his final season with a clear goal: earning a medal at Wamego.
Girard finished 17th at last year’s state meet and posted a personal-best 5-kilometer time of 16:34. With one final opportunity ahead of him, he is motivated to move up the standings.
“I am most excited to try and get another medal at the state meet in Wamego,” Girard said.
Girard spent the summer preparing for his senior season by training with a running group in Salina while also incorporating weight training into his offseason routine.
“I trained throughout the summer with a running group in Salina, as well as doing weight training all summer,” Girard said.
One of his primary areas of focus entering the season is pacing. Girard said he frequently runs alone during the offseason, using those workouts as an opportunity to monitor his times and practice maintaining a consistent pace.
“This year, I would like to try and get better at pacing myself,” Girard said. “I do a lot of running alone in the offseason, so I time myself and try to stay on pace.”
Girard’s individual goals extend beyond improving his times. He wants to return to the state meet, earn a medal and make the most of his final season in a Clifton-Clyde uniform.
“As an individual, my goals are to try and get a medal at the state cross country meet in Wamego and to make the most of my last season,” Girard said.
While Girard has individual goals, he also knows the importance of the team working together. Clifton-Clyde will be looking to put together a strong season and earn a return trip to the state meet.
“As a team, our main goal is to work hard and have fun this season, as well as to try and qualify for the state meet,” Girard said.
With a 16:34 personal best and a 17th-place state finish already on his résumé, Girard enters his senior season with experience at the highest level. Now, he hopes that preparation translates into one more standout performance at Wamego.
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