ITG-CV / September 2016
Columbus High School cross country coach Danielle McCoy uses one word to describe what she sees as the strength of CHS XC athlete Hope Skypek:
“Dedication.”
Skypek, a senior, has been a part of the Blue Devils cross country program since she enrolled as a freshman. In 2014 and 2015, when Skypek was a sophomore and junior respectively, the cross country teams were region winners in the sport. McCoy is in her third season as coach for the XC program and has seen Skypek develop into the dedicated athlete she is today.
“She has grown tremendously in that time,” Skypek said. “Her dedication is what makes her stand ou
The 5’2” runner also notes she has come a long way since she was a freshman. Skypek participated in track and field at Double Churches Middle School and signed up to run cross country “at the last minute” as a way of keeping in shape for track season at CHS. Running is running, she thought, so cross country shouldn’t be much different than participating in track events, right?
“It was pretty rough,” Skypek said, smiling. “I was expecting it to be like track, but just the cross country course is so different. There are turns and hills, and you get a lot more tired.”
For those not familiar with the high school sport of cross country running, a course is typically 3.1 miles, but unlike other 5k events, cross country running takes place on outdoor courses that are designed with grassy and wooded areas and can be hilly and often include different types of curves. A team is made up of five or more runners who race together at the same time with opposing teams. The top five finishers are scored. Those finishing scores are added together to get the team score. The team with the lowest score wins.
Despite the adjustments to a different type of running sport, Skypek said she actually grew to like cross country running better than track. She already had a competitive spirit, but XC running really brought out her desire to succeed. Skypek said she also discovered she liked the longer distance of running cross country and the closeness of the Blue Devils XC team, which she said feels like family to her.
Because the season for cross country begins Aug. 1 and runs to November, serious athletes must spend their summer months preparing for the fall sport. This is where Skypek’s dedication shows up. She puts in an average of 25 to 30 miles a week running during the offseason. She goes to the gym for some weight training, too. However, she said her regimen consists of nothing too intense because she doesn’t want to burn out before the season even begins.
When she does hit the trail, Skypek knows her running game is not just physical. There is a real mental aspect to long distance running, and she has learned over time how to manage it.
“The first two years I was thinking about running, but now I think about it less,” Skypek said. “I kind of zone out. If I didn’t, I would be too nervous.”
She must be doing something right. Last year, Skypek’s best time of the season was 20:10. She came in 73rd at the state meet with a time of 23:33 and earned a spot on the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s All Bi-City Cross Country First Team for 2015.
This fall she is one of seven seniors on the XC team, which hopes to pick up their third consecutive region title. There is a little uncertainty about that since Columbus High has moved into a different region for this school year. However, McCoy, who was named the Ledger-Enquirer’s All Bi-City Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year for 2015, still has confidence the Blue Devils will be as competitive as in previous years.
Skypek will also continue during her last year at CHS as a two-sport athlete. Endurance is another of her best athletic traits, which helps not only as a XC athlete but also in her track and field performances. She has run track for the past three seasons and plans to participate in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter events this spring.
An outstanding student athlete, Skypek has a 4.3 GPA going into her senior year and has three AP courses as part of her academic schedule. No decision has been made about a college destination for Skypek, but she has not ruled out the prospect of being a collegiate athlete.
“If the right offer came along, I would love to get an opportunity to run,” Skypek said.
ITG Web Content
Cross Country Runner Totally Dedicated To Sport
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
