“I always knew he had the opportunity to make it… I’m not surprised that he did,” said Lakewood High School boys cross-country team coach Charles Moore.
Moore’s comments on junior Porter Gilliland’s qualification for the state cross-country meet are reflective of the strong bond between not only Gilliland and Moore, but the entire team.
A strong season by the boys cross-country team led to a Cleveland West Conference Championship win on Oct. 11 and a team qualification for regionals. Gilliland then competed in his second State Championship meet on Nov. 1, placing 16th overall, making the All-State team and showing stellar improvement from his 69th-place finish at last year’s state meet.
Gilliand expressed gratitude to his teammates and coach for his accomplishments during his three years on the team.
“He’s just a really supportive person on every level imaginable. You know, he’s always very wise. He’s had a lot of experiences in life, and so he knows exactly what to do in every moment,” Gilliland said about Moore. “After every race, [my teammates] always come up to me and ask me how I did. They always let me know that they look up to me…the younger ones, at least,” said Moore.
Gilliland also wanted to thank his brother for helping him along his journey.
“I really want to thank my older brother, Turner. He ran before I did, he introduced me to the sport, and he’s always done a very good job of letting me keep my head in the game and run the best I can,” Gilliland said.
This team support is what led the boys team to such a monumental season. But they don’t only rely on each other for support — the girls cross-country team is always there too.
“I think something really nice about the teams is we’re at the same meets together, and people will be on their warm-up and their cool down, and they’ll be cheering for the other team,” said Bridgid Sutliff, a junior on the girls cross-country team. “It’s like we’re two different teams, but we’re all together, and especially at our meets, everybody cheers for each other, even if it’s not our race,” said Sutliff.
But running isn’t as simple as some people may think it is. Moore knows the complexity and work that goes into being a good cross-country runner.
“It’s consistency. But not just this year. It’s consistency in years of running. It really adds up. It’s hard to see it, but that’s what’s in his system. It’s just incredible consistency,” Moore said. “He’s enormously talented to begin with. He works very hard; he’s got an enormous amount of grit. So it’s just really at that point keeping him happy in the sport.”
It’s important to know that wins don’t come without losses. Placing lower at the beginning of the season gives runners the motivation to work harder throughout the season and set higher goals, eventually reaching their peak when it matters the most. Gilliland’s 69th-place finish at last year’s State Championship versus his 16th-place finish this year is an example of that.
Although only a junior, Gilliland has become a leader on the team. He’s been running cross-country since middle school, and sets a great example for his teammates every day, especially the younger ones. As Moore predicted that Gilliland would make it back to the State Championship this year, it’s likely he will return for an even better placement next year as a senior.
As for Gilliland, he knows exactly what his post-state meet plans are. “Take a week off. And then during that week, I’m doing nothing. I’m gonna sit down, I’m gonna enjoy things, and then I’m gonna go right back to running,” said Gilliland.
Gilliland is a year-round athlete running for the boys Cross Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. The Indoor and Outdoor Track teams are sure to have great seasons, following their outstanding cross-country season. Go Rangers!
