Washington High School’s girls cross country team will have a new look this fall, but one familiar presence at the front of the pack will be junior runner Shiloh Phelps. After a summer dedicated to building mileage and chemistry, Phelps said she feels ready to help guide the Lady Warriors into a new era for the program.
“My summer workouts are going very well! I’ve been running with my friends, and it has been really fun,” Phelps said, noting that the offseason has been as much about enjoying the grind as it has been about dropping times.
She identifies one key trait that helps her handle the demands of long-distance running in Oklahoma’s late-summer conditions.
“I believe that one of my strengths is being able to handle the heat and not let it affect me during my runs,” she said. Even with that edge, she is working to sharpen the mental side of racing as she prepares for the upcoming schedule.
“One thing I am working to be stronger on is my mental toughness,” Phelps said.
That focus will be important as Washington replaces a senior-heavy roster and blends in new teammates to its varsity group.
“I think the team will definitely look very different this year because we will have new people, most of our team was seniors last year,” she said.
Her message to that revamped squad is simple but ambitious.
“My message to my team this year is to enjoy it and have fun! The team is very capable of doing so many things this season. All of us have our own personal goals, but our team goal is to see how well we can place at state,” Phelps said.
As she steps into a leadership role, Phelps is already thinking about the legacy she wants to leave at Washington. “I want to be remembered as someone who always worked hard, a good teammate, and someone who always has a good attitude no matter what happens,” she said. “I am really looking forward to this season!”
