Exhausted after finally finishing the three mile long race, junior Catherine Richardson, sits in unbelief. She listens to her cross country coach, Lacy Beckler, tell her that she will be the only competitor at this year’s regionals. Although Richardson has been at regionals twice already, this will be a first in Legacy’s history to have only a single runner advance.

“This is the first year we didn’t make district so I think it was a definite low,” Coach Beckler said, “but we were successful in the bits and pieces, like how they have impacted my life, and the small ways I have been able to impact theirs.”

With regionals approaching, Richardson takes precautions to help prepare for the upcoming competition. Over last summer, Richardson ran a combined total of over 400 miles. At times, she finds it difficult to keep focus with the thought of everyone relying on her to perform well. Even as scary as it may seem, that one thing will be what’ll keep her going throughout the rest of this season. Knowing she can’t let her team down, with so much weighing in on this moment, she focuses on the upcoming race and what needs to be accomplished.

“There’s a lot [of pressure] since I’m the only one there, usually if there’s a team you can divide it amongst each other,” Richardson said. “Now since I’m the only one, it seems I’m putting a lot more pressure on myself.”

Junior year, Richardson realizes now more than ever, what this could mean for her running career. She has been to state twice before, but both times she had others competing with her. Now in her junior year, scouters will be watching her closely.

“I guess it’s different now,” Richardson said. “Even though it’s my third year going, I guess I’m just now realizing the importance of it.”

Although Richardson gets more anxious as the race approaches, she has plans of her own after this season before. Mainly, she wants to rest and regain her strength back, before her next season.

“After this season I’m going to actually rest, which I’m pretty bad at,” Richardson said. “I want to try and prepare for track, and basically just start to take care of myself, get more sleep and start dieting more.”