For DeKalb Cross Country’s Ben Driver, running is not just a sport. Running is a journey he has been on for nearly half a decade.
“I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” Driver said. “But as I grew closer with it and started to get more engaged, just to better my time and getting better as a teammate and help other people, especially as an upperclassman and leading my team to be better.”
After taking a break his freshman year, returned as a sophomore. Since that time, he has shaved over three minutes off his average mile time. Driver said his dedication is evident in the way he trains, between increasing mileage, tackling tougher workouts, and seeking out new courses to challenge himself.
“[I used] longer repeats of mileage, harder workouts,” Driver said. “Just getting in more work, more time of running.”
Driver’s approach is not limited to the high school track. He and his teammates often explore different terrains around the area, adjusting to different surfaces to prepare for each competition.
“It’s different whenever you’re running on grass and pavement,” Driver said. “It’s better to run on grass so it’ll help your legs and improve your speed because that’s usually what we run on for our races.”
Driver finished 15th out of over 200 races in DeKalb’s first race of the season at Coffee County. Driver has finished in the top 30 racers or higher in three of his last six races.
With the sectional meets set for October 27 in Lafayette, Driver said he looks to keep his momentum going and lead the DeKalb cross country team to even greater heights.
