In hopes of gaining endurance for soccer, magnet junior Ellie Shields joined the NC Cross Country (NCXC) team her freshman year. Shields followed in the footsteps of her brother and began training for 5Ks the summer before her first year on the team. NCXC provided Shields a warm welcome to NC, and she has bonded with her teammates over the past three years.
“My favorite part is definitely cheering for people at meets. I would say I have a strong connection with my team because I have been there for three years and have gotten to know basically everyone. It is really fun being able to see my teammates every day. My favorite memories are bus rides after a really good race because everyone is really happy and we play music and hang out together,” Shields said.
When running, Shields works to set a Personal Record (PR) and overall pushes herself to define new limits. She helps her teammates to work at a high level by running alongside them and encouraging them to continue pushing themselves, even if it may seem difficult. As an upperclassman, Shields serves as a guide for new members of the NCXC team and inspires them to overcome the mental challenges of running. Her peers on NCXC feel grateful for her dedication to helping the team succeed as a whole.
Shields’ teammates describe her as a bundle of joy who helps bring energy and spirit to practices and events. Whether a 6 a.m. race or a spooky Halloween costume-themed meet, Shields always shows up prepared and ecstatic to cheer on her team members. Shields inspires the NCXC team through her leadership skills and commitment to helping every member succeed.
“Ellie is so fun to be around and makes every meet fun. Even if it is an early morning, she is always positive and encourages everyone to do their best. I have seen her grow so much on this team, and I am super proud of how much she has grown in endurance and speed. I am so glad she decided to join the team because it would not be the same without her,” teammate and magnet senior Kennedi Tolbert said.
As a member of NC’s international magnet program, Shields balances rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) courses along with daily NCXC practices. Commuting to school and finishing practices late, Shield’s evenings remain filled with homework. She also serves as a member of the NC girls soccer team as a defender and attends practices daily, with games twice a week. Even though she may find XC taxing at times due to injuries and the mental load, her dedication shows through her work ethic as Shields maintains high grades, positively contributes to her community and practices running on and off of the NC campus.
“One thing I think gets misconstrued is probably that cross country is easy, but I would say that it is definitely more mentally and physically draining than soccer for me. Cross country is more of an individual sport, so when you don’t perform as well, it is all on you, and running three to eight miles six days a week is really taxing and can easily lead to bad injuries. Since we run 5Ks, which is 3.1 miles, it is really difficult to get used to, but so satisfying when you succeed and beat your record. I think cross country is something everyone can benefit from, and students should join the cross country team,” Shields said.
Although Shields remains unsure of her future, she plans to take the dedication and mentality she learned from NCXC with her as she advances to college. NCXC helped the young athlete learn the value of maintaining a positive mentality even when things seem impossible, like during a cold, rainy race or after a difficult practice. Shields hopes to continue to reach new goals and inspire others to join NCXC.
The Chant wishes Shields luck in all her future endeavors.
