From running 10 miles in the summer heat to competing at the IHSA State Meet, senior cross country runner Reagan Malone has continuously shown dedication and commitment every step of the way.

After missing the state-qualifying marks in previous seasons, her hard work finally paid off. On Saturday, Nov. 1, Malone broke through and qualified for state with a time of 17:53.

“It felt great to qualify for state,” said Malone. “I’ve been so close since, and after I didn’t make it last year there was a big feeling of now or never.”

And while that wasn’t a personal record, she prepared strategically for a greater goal in mind.

“I’ve been training pretty much year-round since I joined track my freshman year,” Malone said. “But more specifically, I started working towards my goal during summer camp, telling myself it was my year and that I could make state.”

Malone’s success translated into the team’s success as well. The Grens qualified for sectionals as a team for the second consecutive year in a row, an accomplishment the team hasn’t achieved in decades.

Through months of training and competing her senior year, Malone can now relax knowing that her perseverance has paid off.

“Cross country teaches you to be tough,” she said. “Nobody runs as much as we do each day for no reason. It has taught me how to calm myself and be smart when racing and how to handle the stress.”

Placing 36th overall at state with a time of 17:27, Malone was able to set one last personal record before the end of the season, just shy of a new school record.

“We are here for a reason, and there is no better day to have a good day than today,” Malone said.