Everyday after school, the girls cross country team often runs through the streets of Papillion. The girls run through the late summer heat or even freezing, pouring rain, persevering through the long distances. Their countless hours of preparation are all for one last meet: State.

In recent years, the girls team has made a mark at state cross-country. With several medalists at the state meet, the team itself placed in the top six for the past three years. Meeting these standards requires a lot of work throughout the season through the highs and lows of the year.

“I had good races [this season] but I was definitely mad because I hadn’t gotten under a certain time,” Senior Layla Phillips said. “But at state I finally got it under 20 [minutes], that was my first time this season, so I was very happy with that.”

This is Phillips’ second year on the team and second year running at state. Her hard work paid off throughout the season to be prepared for the final race.

 “I was in 16th place in the two and a half mile mark, and I had to go because the top 15 medal,” Phillips said. “So I was really just telling myself to keep going.”

Phillips pushed herself through the finish, placing 14th and beating 15th place by under half a second, which allowed Phillips to earn her second state medal. Seniors like Phillips pave the way for future runners and give freshmen someone to look up to.

There were two freshmen on the state team, Lucy Digillio and Layla Snyder. Running at such an important and competitive race is a big feat, especially if it is a runner’s first time.

“I was so nervous,” Digillio said. “When the guy raises the flags all the parents stop talking, and it’s so silent. Then the gun goes off and everybody starts cheering again. It’s so loud.”

Digillio finished her first year of cross-country with a personal record of 21:32. Throughout the season, Digillio built habits to improve and to perform well at the final meet.

“I was focused on my breathing, because I was told that’s important,” Digillio said. “I had not been focused on my breathing in the last few races, so I was really locked in on how I was breathing.”

The hard work that the runners put into the season showed in the results: the team placed fifth overall. Additionally, senior Alexis Chadek got her fourth state medal at a state meet, making her one of the 28 girls ever who have placed every year at a state race in Class A. 

“You have to be mentally tough to be able to run like that, and to know that you’re capable and you’ve worked this hard, so you’re ready to do it,” Phillips said.