White County Cross Country’s Kayce Wright introduced to the sport after performing on the soccer pitch.
Wright started playing soccer her junior year. During that year, the White County cross country coach came up to Wright after a practice and asked if she wanted to be a part of the cross country team. Wright said she decided to join upon the suggestion. Wright got to learn the unique approach cross country has quickly after that.
“It’s different running styles,” Wright said. “Cross country’s all endurance and then soccer is more sprint, jog, walk. And it still is building up endurance.”
Wright had to change her running style when beginning cross country. Wright said she had to learn how to run slow initially before going faster as the race went on. Wright said a key component of running cross country is utilizing strength training.
“You’re running so long, your arms are gonna get tired, your abs are gonna get tired, your legs are gonna tired,” Wright said. “So really working out everything as well as endurance will help you so much better with hills and everything.”
Wright spends most of practices running up the hills at White County High School. Wright said practicing up on those hills is a key test to determining your endurance.
“It’s more rough getting to the top of the hill afterwards and feeling all that weight hit you hard after you get up the hill,” Wright said. “Once you get past it, it’s pretty easy.”
Wright said she made a course at the parking lot with a hill that slopes upward. The hill starts near the outdoor basketball courts. Wright said she goes down the hill at full sprint as well.
Wright currently is nursing a sprained ankle. Wright will look to rejoin the team in qualifiers in October.
