Bishop Carroll cross-country athlete Hope Jackson grabbed a long list of awards and achievements this season. After winning the Class 5A state championship by more than thirty seconds, Jackson was named the Bob Timmons KS Runner of the Year and the KS Milesplit Runner of the Year. She was named 1st team All State and is the fastest cross-country runner to ever come out of Bishop Carroll.
“Being named the Cross-Country Athlete of the Month for VYPE Magazine is inspiring to me. As a sixth grader, when I started running, I only ever dreamed that one day I would be a state champion, let alone a Runner of the Month. It is also very rewarding. This title only urges me more and more to keep pushing because there are so many rewards to the pain of all the practices spent preparing for the races,” said Jackson.
This sophomore knew coming into the season that she had a shot at having a great year.
“As a sophomore, I came into the season feeling confident. I knew with all the training I had completed, I could only improve from my freshman season, and I was able to improve. In some races my improvement was by more than a minute. Every race was a new adventure, where I learned what it was like to be a leader of the race. This season helped show me what I am capable of, and I know I am capable of so much more. Being ahead of the field by 30 seconds to a minute in most races also helped me see that if I wanted to get better I had to win the battle going on in my mind mentally,” said Jackson.
Jackson said her teammates played a huge role in her success.
“Without my teammates, I would not have done nearly as well. They supported me and gave me something to fight for. They helped me get through the workouts and conquer the hard parts of the race.”
