Rider sports are finally back in swing. Some sports teams have decided to lighten the mood of a shortened, modified season by doing a Roosevelt “Athlete of the Week.” The idea behind it is pretty simple: after a week of competitions and games, the coaches collectively choose an individual to win the honor for that week.
One athlete of the week has been Claire Archer. Archer, a junior on the Girls Cross Country team, has been killing the competition this year, winning all of her races and even beating her personal record by over a minute in a week, with a 5K time of 17:30. This time earned her a trip to Metros where she won and qualified for this year’s virtual state championships at the RHS track.
When asked about what values a good leader possesses, Archer says that “the best leaders exemplify resilience and inclusion. Our captains this year — Margot, Harriet, and Kaitlyn — overcame and dealt with the challenges of a season during a pandemic.”
Archer continues, saying that, “The best leaders also empower individuals; building a sense of worth in each member of the team. Our seniors and captains made a huge impact in this regard. As the most experienced members of our team, they created a sense of belonging in everyone.”
Archer, like all Roosevelt students, has had to transition to a different lifestyle since the pandemic started over a year ago. When it comes to staying active and motivated during quarantine, Archer says that “Like many others, I often needed a break from the house, and running provided a way to safely get out during quarantine.”
As a freshman and sophomore, Archer participated in Roosevelt soccer, water polo, and the swim team. “On all the teams, I had great teammates and experiences. Each team was so supportive, passionate about their sport, and had fun together.” It wasn’t until Archer’s junior year that she joined the cross country team. “Although running was a favorite of mine, injuries kept me from joining cross country,” says Archer.
Archer says that while she misses her teammates from other sports, “the cross country team has been so welcoming. My desire to run for Roosevelt and being part of an inclusive team where people ran for their teammates motivated me while I was running alone.”
Finally, when asked about any positives that could be taken out of this crazy year, Archer says that “One of the positives of the year so far was this cross country season. We had freshmen on the team who had never gotten the chance to experience high school to the full extent, and some people, myself included, had never gotten the chance to be on the cross country team.”
“The team became a little island of normalcy during this crazy year. We grew close together and bonded through pouring practices, sweltering meets, and difficult workouts. Cross country created a team and community that I will look forward to every day and will never forget,” Archer says.
In a year with increased isolation, having a community that will both support and challenge you is more important than ever. For Archer, that community has been the Girl’s Cross Country Team.
