A cool breeze sweeps across the field as the Lakewood Rangers set up, ready for the challenge ahead. The boys’ race kicked off at 1:30 p.m., with runners charging forward, their feet pounding the terrain of Lorain Community College. Spectators and teammates cheer from the sidelines. As the clock nears 2 p.m., the boys cross the finish line, securing Lakewood’s spot in eighth place—marking their first qualification for regionals since 2019.
The weather conditions were ideal for racing, with a temperature of 67 degrees and light winds between 0 to 5 mph.
“We’ve been running since June,” Coach Charles Moore said. “It’s a five-month commitment—June, July, August, September, and now we’re in October. We’ve got to convince kids to start right at the beginning of the summer, to come out and start training.” Moore emphasized the importance of preparation and long-term commitment to the sport. This early start had laid the foundation for the team’s strong performance this season.
“It’s hard to describe the feeling you get after you finish a race—just that feeling of crossing the line, knowing you put it all out there and couldn’t have given any more effort,” senior runner Quinn Sutliff said. Sutliff reflected on the team’s hard work and the satisfaction of finishing strong.
“This week, in particular, we took it easy because we’ve been training hard since June. Yesterday, on our run, it was completely silent. We just thought and visualized this race and how we were going to succeed,” Sutliff added, highlighting the mental aspect of race preparation.
“We start in June, so right when the school year ends, we begin our training sessions,” Moore noted. “It’s about building up slowly and making sure the athletes are ready for the season ahead.” He emphasized the structured approach to the season’s training.
“We train in a lot of different locations—sometimes on the track, other times at Madison Park, Lakewood Park, or Edgewater Park,” Sutliff explained. “It’s just about getting your legs stronger and getting your body acclimated to the weather.” The Lakewood runners faced the challenges of the course head-on, benefiting from their varied training locations around Northeast Ohio.
There were certainly trials and tribulations throughout the season, but our Rangers persevered. Their disciplined training, strategic preparation, and a strong sense of teamwork allowed them to tackle the course’s challenges and secure a top-10 finish. As the team looks ahead to regionals, Moore and his athletes remain focused on continuous improvement, embodying the commitment that has defined their journey since the summer. With each race, the Rangers build on their foundation, striving for success one step at a time.
