“Kit Kat” has already cut her three-mile time down by 1 minute and 4 seconds.

In each race, Katherine ’12 placed one foot in front of the other, taking each step with more purpose and confidence than the last.

Through most of last year, Katherine saw herself as a soccer player. But in the spring, she ran track for the first time to keep in shape and this summer she was the first woman to place at the College of the Canyons meet, which made her realize that running might be her forte.

This year, she’s helping the cross country team try to win back the Sunshine League.

Guided by Coach Grant, the head coach of the track and cross country team, Katherine held a personal record of 18 minutes and 58 seconds in the three mile race during last year’s track season.

At the Rosemead Invitational meet this season, she improved her record by a minute and four seconds. Coach Grant can already see great promise in Katherine, and pushed her during practice to be her best.

“We are going for the gusto with Katherine and are hoping she’ll win CIF,” Grant said.

Danielle ’10, the cross country team captain and a running veteran, who has placed with a 17 minutes and six seconds Marlborough record in League Finals last year at Griffith Park, is appreciative of Katherine being on the team. She enjoys that Katherine, as well as other teammates, are there to give her more of a competitive edge.

“I really like that there’s someone there to push me, and as the team improves, the competition also gives me a chance to get better,” Danielle said.

Running only started out as an afterschool activity for Katherine but ended up becoming her deepest passion.

“Running for me is calming and relaxing, it’s something I love and feel good doing,” Katherine said.

This ardent passion for running began because Katherine’s parents had work and needed her to stay after school on most days of the week, so she needed to exercise close to home.

However, as the season progressed her connection and motivation to practice evolved into something more.

Over the summer, Katherine followed a rigorous routine in which she’d wake up early almost every day to practice. She also attended J period with the rest of the cross country team in which they’d practice on Mondays and Wednesdays in Griffith Park.

During the practice, they ran the challenging hills known as the “agony” and the “sand hill,” and at Mt. Sac, they ran “switch backs,” the “reservoir,” and the “poop out.”

Running on the cross country team this year, Katherine hopes to improve her time and be a positive contributor to the team.

“I’m looking forward to a great season not only for myself but for the team as a whole,” Katherine said.

Cross Country Updates

Oct. 15 Immaculate Heart:

The team’s next league meet at the Griffith Park home course. Come out and support!

Oct. 1 Ramona Convent:

The team won its league opener to Ramona Convent last Thursday afternoon at Griffith Park. The win is the first step toward possibly recapturing the Sunshine League title.

Stanford Invitational:

Runners Nailah ’10, Katherine ’12, and Danielle ’10 participated in the high-profile Stanford Invitational Sept. 26. On a tough day that included high tem­peratures and a longer than usual course, none of the runners placed.

Don Busco Invitational:

Senior Danielle came in first place during the team’s first race of the season Sept. 12. Alexa ’11 placed 37th with a time of 22:55 during the three-mile long race.