Running to Regionals
Note: Senior and Sectional Champion Anya Ramrakhiani was featured in another story that can be found here.
Abeer Gaber ‘24
Years at Canterbury: 2
Other sports/activities: Track
Favorite thing about running Cross Country: My favorite thing about running cross country is the team. I’ve grown such a strong bond with people I might have not been able to interact with otherwise. I also like how at each meet there is a chance to improve and get a better time from the previous week.
How long have you been a runner? 2 years
What are your expectations for regionals? My expectations for myself is to set a personal record and hopefully as a team make it to Semi-State.
What is your most memorable Cross Country moment so far? It’s difficult to choose only one of the great moments I’ve had while being on this team. However, one that sticks out was when the girl’s team placed 2nd at the Marion Invitational I remember how excited each of us were after seeing the results just a little after our race.
Promyse Williams ‘25
Years at Canterbury: 2
Other sports/activities: track, production crew, a job, and some student boards
Favorite thing about running Cross Country: The support and love from your teammates and being able to pick each other up.
How long have you been a runner? I ran for fun in elementary school, but became more serious about the sport during sixth grade
What are your expectations for regionals? To work hard and do my best, for both myself and the team. In my opinion, it is already a major achievement to be healthy enough to run regionals this year.
About your coach(es): The coaching staff are all very supportive in different ways. Coach Cook is very passionate and helps me realize my strength even when I can’t see it myself. He believes in me, and that helps me believe in myself. Coach Gabby is so much fun and offers us her respect and time, even though she works really hard in her personal life. She’s always so considerate and supportive to us, and always has a bright and happy attitude. The coaching staff are very supportive and amazing in their own ways.
What is your most memorable Cross Country moment so far? Team family dinner. It was the moment I finally realized how close we’d all grown together as a team, and how much more comfortable we were with each other. After that team dinner, I felt more confident to approach my teammates in the halls at school or during class, or anytime outside of practice.
Maria Tan ‘25
Years at Canterbury: 11
Other sports/activities: I play cello, and I also love hiking.
Favorite thing about running Cross Country: The team environment is really great as well as the coaches. Running is a great way to unwind after a busy day at school and have some fun.
How long have you been a runner? I have been running since I joined the XC team in 5th grade, so for 6 years now.
What are your expectations for regionals? I’m pretty excited to go head to head with some good competition and let the adrenaline of the big race carry me to a great race.
About your coach(es): We are so lucky to have such a great coaching staff that supports us not only as athletes; the whole coaching staff has done a great job creating an environment that is conducive to the team’s growth both as athletes and as people.
What is your most memorable Cross Country moment so far? My most memorable Cross Country moment so far is the awesome bus rides to and from meets where some great team bonding takes place.
Sarah Krabach ‘25
Years at Canterbury: 12
Other sports/activities: Track, Orchestra
Favorite thing about running Cross Country: My amazing team and coaches and the way it pushes me mentally and physically
How long have you been a runner? I’ve been running cross country and track since middle school but I started taking running seriously last year
What are your expectations for regionals? My expectations for regionals is to hopefully get out as a team. I’m currently injured but I’m going to push myself to the best of my abilities to help my team.
What is your most memorable Cross Country moment so far? My most memorable cross country moment so far is getting out of sectionals as a team. We worked so hard all season and despite our injuries and the small size of our team, we proved to everyone that we were capable. I truly wouldn’t trade the team we have this year for anything. They’re really what makes this sport so important to me.
Sameera Apuri ‘24
Years at Canterbury: 15
Other sports/activities: I run track in the spring and play the violin as well.
Favorite thing about running Cross Country: My favorite thing about cross country is the friendships you will make. Having teammates that will help push you or just be a supportive friend is truly amazing. I have made amazing friendships with some of the most kind and supportive girls I know. Even though we mainly only see each other during practice and meets, they have become some of my closest friends and it almost feels like our girls team is a family. We have gotten each other through tough workouts, the pain of doing ice baths, the pain of having an injury, and bad races. Even if one of us has a good race or a good workout, we are always there for the other teammate who may have had a bad race or workout. We have all had our fair share of laughing, crying, frustration, and so many more emotions that I am so grateful I was able to share with my wonderful distance girl family.
How long have you been a runner? I have been a runner since Track season of freshman year.
What are your expectations for regionals? We have a pretty good chance of making it out to semi state and I believe it is going to be the best race of the season for everyone because, we have never gotten the opportunity to make it out of sectionals and run at regionals as a full girls team.
Tell me about your coach(es): Our coaches are truly the best coaches because they are so confident in what they do and they know how to do their job well. They make solid training plans for each of their athletes and have the ability to adjust the training plan if something like an injury comes up. I really enjoy how our coaches take so much time and effort into making projections for races, especially for sectionals and regionals. It gives us a clear cut idea on what each of our goals should be for the race, which inevitably makes our jobs easier because we are not just blindly racing without a goal. Another thing our coaches have is discipline but also sympathy. They are there if we need to talk to them, but they also push us so we can be better than we were the day before. The thing I most admire about our coaches is the belief they have in me and the rest of the team. Believing in myself is something I have always struggled with, but having coaches who know how to properly coach this sport makes me trust them, and therefore, I have finally learned to believe in myself during races and tell myself that I am capable because I have put in the work and done everything my coaches have asked of me.
What is your most memorable Cross Country moment so far? My most memorable moment was earlier in the season at the race at Indiana Wesleyan University where I crossed the finish line at a 25:19, because just 2 weeks before, I had opened up my junior season with a 26:54. After my first race, I was talking to my coach about if it was really possible to run a sub 25 minute 5K by the time we got to sectionals but running a time only 19 seconds away from that goal just two weeks later was astounding to me. I still remember how I chose to hurt and chose to fight back when any girl would try to pass me and I was so happy I did once I crossed the finish line because it was such a huge step in my cross country career. Although my times are in the 23 minute range now, that race still stays as one of my proudest moments.