From the unofficial first practice run in June to the final race in November, the season was filled with hard work and victories that will be remembered by members of the team for years to come. For athletes and coaches, the season was marked by growth, competition, and unforgettable team memories.
The cross country season began with many hot weeks of preseason training. Athletes focus on building endurance and getting into good physical shape. From early morning runs to avoid the heat, to sand and toboggan hill workouts, to fun team-bonding activities, those moments set the tone for the season. Head coach Brian Salyers and two assistant coaches Elizabeth Smith and John Fundukian emphasized staying consistent and supporting teammates through every step of training.
Many athletes, especially new runners, were faced with the challenge of adjusting to the demanding nature of the sport. But as the summer days went on, the team got stronger by developing fitness and a sense of teamwork and brotherhood. Those important summer days would help this team work through some of the toughest races. New runner junior Jacob Belliston said, “Overall it was an impulsive decision to join cross country but the memories of being with my teammates made it a great experience.”
As the season officially kicked off, the team lined up at invitational meets and regular-season races. This team was striving for top finishes and for many runners, this was their opportunity to show the months of training they had put in.
One of the standout features of this season was the team’s resilience. All athletes continually pushed their limits and set new personal bests. There were many great moments from runners shaving minutes off their time, to athletes finishing their race with a crazy kick that comes out of nowhere. One example is junior Bastien Beaubien at this years regional meet, in the last tenth of the race, sprinting past other runners to the finish. Beaubien said while previewing the course, “I took note of the long straightaway that led to the finish line… My only thought was getting that next, and closing the gap between and the next group of Lakeland runners.”
There were many exciting events of the season, some of the most memorable moments were finishing second in the LVC meet and the regional meet. This was where teams were racing against each other to get the chance to qualify for state championships. Pressure felt high, but it was during these races that Milford runners showed their true toughness.
Some standout individual performances included finishes from athletes who had been working toward this moment for years. For example, junior Kyle O’Rourke who, finished in the third at the state meet and broke the Milford 5k record with a time of 15:02, after years of dedicated training. After breaking the school record O’Rourke said, “It’s still surreal to me that I actually managed to break it.” O’Rourke also said there is no special training or workout, “I just showed up to practice everyday.” Or senior Evan Kelly, who ran a time of 17:32 last year and then ran 16:47 at the state meet, breaking times he never thought he would achieve. These performances aren’t always about winning races, but they represent dedication, sacrifice, and chasing excellence.
While individual achievements are celebrated, cross country is a team sport. The success of each runner depends on the collective effort and support of their teammates. Throughout the season, it became clear that this team embraced this sense of unity.
The peak of the season came at the state championships. A meet where teams from all over the state gather to compete to be the best team in Michigan. For many athletes, this was the race of a lifetime and the moment they had worked for all season. Emotions were high, and nerves were on edge, but this team felt prepared for the 5k course at MIS (Michigan International Speedway).
While the team walked away with an 11th-place finish, the experience of the state was irreplaceable. Many runners achieved lifetime bests, proving that all their hard work had paid off.
As the season finished, the future of Milford High School cross country looks bright. Many athletes are already setting their sights on next year and planning how they will improve during the offseason.
For the athletes, it was a season full of memories, growth, and pride they will carry with them for years to come. This season was a test of the resilience and determination of every runner who ran their hardest every race. Sal commented on this years team, “We set out to create an exceptions and many of were realized and this season set the standard for the future.”
