As the sun dipped low over the Archie Williams track, bathing the field in a warm amber glow, senior Ian Sharp powered across the finish line, his teammates cheering him on loudly from the sidelines. However, for Ian, winning isn’t just about speed. It’s about staying focused, working hard, and leaning on the support of his team.
From his early days as a middle school runner, to becoming one of the fastest on the cross-country and track teams, Ian has poured his heart into the sport. Now in his senior year, he looks back on the moments that shaped him and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Before becoming an avid runner in his teens, Ian was formerly dedicated to swimming. Inspired by his father, a former college runner, Ian began exploring the sport, fully committing to it in sixth grade.
“My dad ran in college, so I started running. I swam for eight years, and then I went to run and found some early success, so I stuck with it,” Ian said.
In high school, Ian has made significant progress as a runner through consistent practice and training. He achieved a first-place finish at both the MCAL Championships and the North Coast Section Championship, capped by an undefeated MCAL league season. His hard work and perseverance also earned him 9th place at the highly competitive State Meet.
He attributes his high school-level improvement to his Archie Williams coach, Robyn Berry. Under her guidance, Ian’s running skills have grown immensely, leading him to become a key member of the Archie Williams cross country and track team.
“I’ve definitely gotten faster over the years,” Ian said. “[Berry is] the best to ever do it. Her coaching style intends on you being at your fastest senior year, which is always great.”
Running is both physically and mentally challenging, and Ian says the training mental part of the sport is just as important as the physical side. He believes that when your mind is strong, you’re more likely to stay motivated and keep moving forward, even when your body feels like quitting.
“Cross country is a mental sport,” Ian said. “Your brain gives up before your body does, so you just wanna make sure that you’re going into a race mentally and physically strong.”
Along with mental health care, nutrition plays a significant role in Ian’s training routine. Recently, Ian has focused on eating more nutritious options, recognizing their importance in supporting his performance and recovery. However, he admits that sticking to a healthy diet is not always easy.
“When I’m feeling good, I’m racing good, [so] I’ve been eating more greens, fruits… and it’s definitely helped, but sometimes I just want to eat pizza,” Ian said.
Running is often seen as an individual sport, in which athletes compete based on their own times or distances and are solely accountable for their performance. However, Ian highlights the importance of teamwork in cross country. He believes that every runner on the team plays a significant role, regardless of the position they finish in. His attitude shows how the whole team collaborates and supports each other throughout the season.
“You can’t win a championship on your own. You need your fourth and fifth runner to score, and sixth and seventh are also there to score, if need be. Cross country is a team sport; everyone has to be locked in,” Ian said.
Running isn’t always easy, and Ian has faced setbacks in the past. During his freshman year, he struggled with Achilles tendonitis, which kept him off the track for half the season. During his injury, Ian continued training but was stuck on the flats to avoid aggravating it. However, overcoming the injury is a testament to his perseverance through the injury reflects his determination to stay in the game.
“Freshman year I got Achilles tendonitis, and I took myself out for half the season. I couldn’t do any hills because that would aggravate it, but I still trained just on flat ground,” Ian said.
Looking ahead, Ian plans to continue running in college and keep improving his skills. Over the years, he has consistently become faster, his most notable strength as a runner being his ability to push through at the end of a race and finish strong. However, he acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in how he responds to competing runners during races.
“I’ve definitely been getting faster over the years, but I want to keep improving and pushing myself. My best ability is to push myself to my limit, definitely in the last 1-2K of the race. But sometimes, if someone makes a strong move, I can get mentally defeated,” he said. “So, I need to improve on that for the future.”
Whether he’s running on the track or the cross country trails, Ian’s work ethic has proven to him that success isn’t just about talent. Running competitively is about hard work, perseverance, and a sense of being part of a larger team.
