For Grove junior, Jase McAbee, running is all about drive and determination. While teams and schools compete together – at its core – cross country is an individual sport. When the race begins it is simply the runner against the course. McAbee knows that there are several key factors necessary to be successful in the sport.
“Hard work and determination are the main qualities that are required to run cross country,” McAbee said. “Without the drive to keep running despite the pain, and the hard work to keep your body in shape, running cross country competitively would be nearly impossible.”
McAbee started running at an early age, thanks in part to his older brother, who also ran competitively. McAbee learned to dedicate himself to the sport and training back in elementary school and has continued on with his desire and willingness to compete to this day.
“I first started running in fourth grade in a group called Soles in Training which is a very basic running class,” McAbee said. “We would run at 6:45 in the morning. I was inspired to get into running by my older brother, Ryan, who ran for cross country for quite some time and I always looked up to him.”
McAbee has followed in his older brother’s footsteps, whom he considers to be a role model, and found his own success on the trail and soccer field.
“I always looked up to my older brother, Ryan,” McAbee said. “He was the person who brought me to cross country, soccer, and many of the activities and sports I do today. He was definitely one of the biggest role models in my life.”
On September 15th McAbee did well finishing 11th overall in a 5K event with a time of 19:03. As this fall season progresses McAbee has a few events he’s looking forward to competing in and is hoping to qualify for state. His main goal, as it is every year in cross country, is to qualify for the state competition.
“The meet I’m most excited for is the regionals meet I have coming up at Ponca City,” McAbee said. “That is the meet that counts. The time you get there is what qualifies you for state or not. Ponca City is also a meet where we will go up the night before and stay at a hotel. It will be very fun this year.”
As a junior McAbee is not completely decided on his future after high school, but knows he wants to further his education.
“My plans after high school are still in the making for now,” McAbee said. “But I have decided I would like to try and go to a college to follow a path that best suits me.”
