Winning a championship is hard. Winning three is harder, especially in back-to-back-to-back years. The Seattle Prep Boys Cross Country team is coming off two straight state championships and are looking to complete the trifecta in 2024.
Captain Sam Kurtz ’25 couldn’t be more confident: “It will be tough, but we have the guys to do it.”
Coach Andrew Walker recognizes that the skill of his team has led to such great success. “We have incredibly talented kids; no matter how good your culture is you need great runners to do big things.”
Last year, 4 of the top 5 fastest runners in Metro were from Prep, with Captain Jack Henzke lead the way as the fourth fastest boy in Washington State. However, success comes through adversity, and boys cross country has come a long way to get here.
Coach Walker highlights the state meet in 2021 as a turning point for the program. “We had come out of Covid with a good team, a lot of guys training and starting to do the right things. It was a young team, but definitely one that could be top three.”
The boys ran well, but a surprise run from Gig Harbor left them with a disappointing fifth place finish. “It felt like a gut punch,” Walker says. “We had worked so hard and done so many things so well, but we got beat by better teams and came away without the trophy.”
That moment sparked a determination within the team to achieve lasting success. With 5 of the top 6 runners on the team returning for the next season, the Panthers were poised to bounce back. Walker notes, “I think that we needed one more little push to reach the heights we have.”
Cross country is often viewed as an individual sport, but both players and coaches recognize the team aspect. Kurtz even goes as far as to say, “I couldn’t think of a more team centered sport.”
In training, the idea of a team motivates each player to be their best. With Varsity runners running up to 50 miles a week, knowing there are other people in it with you makes it easier. Walker explained, “We ask every guy to push through the adversity on race day, because there is power in 45 guys all choosing to do the hard thing.”
The Varsity is not the only focus however, with Kurtz saying that a big goal of the team is to “sweep all 4 categories at metro: Varsity, Jv, Freshman/Sophomore and Junior/Senior.”
Kurtz said he feels the team culture is the most important part of the program. He has learned commitment and leadership from his time running cross country. “Culture is always showing up to every meet and practice even if your hurt, and looking out for everyone.”
