Candy canes, cracker jacks, popcorn boxes – the cross country team has heard it all when it comes to describing the shorts they race in. Vertical red and white stripes mark the competitors as a different type of runner on the Legacy cross country team. For junior Jake Weith, the constant stares, snickers and giggles don’t phase him before every race, and he continues to focus on what lies ahead.
Weith began his cross country career in the eighth grade and continues to train for Legacy. He currently works to make it to the state cross country meet on Saturday, Nov. 9. This qualification will go through the regional meet held Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
“I have always loved the striped shorts,” Weith said. “It’s what separates me from ordinary runners. Not only do they remember I’m fast but they remember my shorts.”
In eighth grade, Weith decided to join cross country after the annual fitness exam students take each year. In the exam, students had to run a mile for time, and Weith barely made it under ten minutes. He then finished his cross country season as a slower runner and pulled himself up to second best runner in track and field at T.A. Howard Middle School.
“I was the back of the pack on B-Team and less than ordinary in eighth grade,” Weith said.
Weith didn’t plan to run in high school until a friend of his, Ja’Ron Hymen, convinced Weith to join him in the summer practices before school started. In his freshman year, Weith worked his way up to varsity by the third cross country meet and ended up as the third best runner by the end of the season. He also qualified to regionals with his the fellow Legacy boys cross country team.
“[The next] year I started faster than I ever had because of that,” Weith said.
In Weith’s sophomore year of track, he really noticed a change in his running abilities. A fellow training buddy, Jeff Weisheit, helped Weith learn how to change his training style. Weisheit taught Weith everything he knew about how to be a successful runner. Every workout they ran they treated with a passionate eye.
“He motivated me to be the best runner I could be and I have used what I have learned for this cross country season,” Weith said.
The only boy to make it to regionals, Weith will participate in the regional cross country meet on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Lyn Creek Park near Joe Pool Lake. The girls’ cross country team participates on the same day as Weith at the same location as well. Currently Weith hopes to go to the state meet, but during his senior year he aims to get a scholarship to a division one school.
“That’s something that will be reached through hard work,” Weith said, “but I expect to accomplish anything I decide to do.”
