On a sun-drenched September afternoon, over 80 girls and 100 boys lined up at St. Paul's School for the Lakes Region season opener. Among them were nearly a dozen Proctor runners making their cross country debuts – and by day's end, newcomer Bella Simeone '26 had claimed second overall in the girls' field while captain Catherine Vierzen '28 took first, propelling the team to second place. First-timer Hayes Thompson '28 broke the top 20 in the boys' race, and captain Max Preuss '26 – back after a year away for Ocean Classroom – secured second overall.

Over the next two months, personal records would fall on trails throughout the Lakes Region and across Proctor's campus – at the Ski Area, on the Rail Trail, deep in the Woodlands – as a team culture took shape through fun training exercises and the shared challenge of a mentally and physically demanding sport. Runners finished races alongside each other with beaming smiles, teammates lifted each other up through difficult workouts, and a collective understanding emerged that supporting each other matters as much as individual times. As their season came to a close, captains Max '26 and Catherine '28 paused to reflect on what they helped build: a program where "cross country is for everybody" and "improvement" aren't just taglines on the team webpage, but the foundation of how teammates operate day in and day out.

On Creative Training Approaches and Team Culture

Catherine '28: I have done some scavenger hunts, which are really fun and get the heart pumping. We do a lot of team building activities, which really bring everyone together and create a positive culture, especially on interval day when everyone is pushing to the max – everyone is in pain together.

Cross country at Proctor is "for everybody," yet you both compete at elite levels. How do you balance creating an inclusive, supportive environment while also pushing for competitive excellence? Nearly half the team were first-time cross country runners, I believe.

Max '26: Everyone goes on their own run. It's a personal sport as much as a team sport. The beauty of it comes through the fact that anyone can do their own run, no matter what that means for you, whether you're a beginner or an experienced runner. I will say, though, sometimes it is difficult to train even more, given team and time constraints.

Catherine '28: Yes! Some of the time on harder days, we will have 2 groups: one that includes less advanced runners who are just in it for the joy and others that are looking to compete at a more competitive level. The easier group will do stuff like frisbee and short runs, while the more advanced group will incorporate longer runs and intervals. It's an environment where everyone can have a place and feel understood in terms of needs and expectations.

Talk about training on Proctor's 2,500 acres and the surrounding area (Mountain Biking/Woodlands trails, Ski Area/Nordic trails, rail trail, gravel roads, and more!

Catherine '28: I love it! Most of the time, we will utilize the rail trail or our own home course, as it is most similar to races. Other times, we will go to Elbow Pond and do swims and fun cardio-based activities.

Max '26: This is my favorite thing about Proctor. I've been here for 4 years, and I still don't know every trail, and I can say I've gone through them fairly thoroughly. Every day I go out and try to take a new route, and I find a new view. It's incredibly hilly as well, which makes Proctor the best hill-conquering team in the Lakes Region without question.

Cross country is often seen as an individual sport, but the race recaps show incredible team support. How do you cultivate a team mentality when everyone is running their own race?

Max '26: Every race is a team endeavor. We all cheer together, we warm up together, and we race and take care of each other. Even though everyone runs their own race, we suffer together, making it the most bonding team experience at Proctor.

Catherine '28: Both Max and I think that it's really important to create a team mentality! If you're not competing at an advanced level then that is ok! Everyone will partake in warmups and secret psychs (write each other hype-up letters before the race!) and cheer each other on. It's really about getting what you put into it out, and I think running is a really great way to do that!

Is there a particular race or practice from this season that captures what cross country at Proctor is about?

Catherine '28: Yes! Lakes Region Champs was so fun! Everyone was cheering for everyone else and keeping spirits up. Though some were injured, they left it all out on the course by yelling encouraging things to teammates. Girls being 2nd in Lakes Region really shows how coming together as a team can have such a positive impact on the team and everyone around, and embodies all of Proctor's core values.

What have you learned about leadership through cross country, and how has the sport shaped who you are outside of your time training and competing?

Catherine '28: I have learned to be self-disciplined, and one big thing that I have always taken out of every season is what my coach says: "You get out of it what you put into it." I love pushing limits for myself, and I try to remember that in every aspect of my life! This sport has taught me to lead individually, but also to listen to others. Everyone on the team has taught me more about lifting each other up than I have taught them. It's so important to recognize that as captains, we are helpful, but everyone else has something special to bring to the table.

 

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