Travis B. Bryan High School Cross Country Season Preview

The Travis B. Bryan High School cross-country team is gearing up for an exciting new season. With a talented group of returning players and promising new additions, they are ready to work together towards a common goal - reaching the Regional Championships. We had the opportunity to speak with Coach Justin Havens about the team's prospects this year and here's what he had to say. Last season, the team had some exceptional players who will be returning this year and leading the team to success. Coach Havens identified Diego Duran, Rafael Gonzales, and Kite Williamson as the top returning players. These students not only have outstanding athletic abilities but are also dedicated scholars and well-rounded individuals, making them not just valuable players but also role models for the rest of the team. In addition, senior Amelia Sullivan has been identified as a potential team captain due to her leadership qualities. As for who will join her as captain, Coach Havens stated that only Amelia is confirmed at the moment, but other players on the team are also in the running for the role. The qualities that Coach Havens looks for in potential captains are good leadership skills, punctuality, and focus. These are all traits that can positively influence the team's chemistry and success. Speaking of team chemistry and camaraderie, Coach Havens emphasized the importance of these in a successful cross-country team. He mentioned that it is an organic element that evolves naturally over a shared experience. To promote this, the team focuses on mutual support, good communication, and celebrating each other's achievements while working towards improvement. To motivate his players to push themselves to their full potential, Coach Havens believes in fostering a culture of self-discovery and encouraging the joy of improvement. He also mentioned that the team's mental aspect of the game is crucial to their success, and they work on mental awareness of race situations in each practice. As with any team, there have been challenges in preparing for the new season. Coach Havens pointed out that for cross country, motivation is an intrinsic character trait that comes from self-discovery. The team celebrates each achievement while also honestly assessing ways to improve and overcome the desire for instant gratification. When it comes to this season's schedule, Coach Havens mentioned that it is always a challenge to balance it with races that expose the team to top runners in the state while also including memorable races with unique challenges.