Winning league champions in Cross Country was a very important factor that contributed to my highschool experience. The year before, we placed second and just barely missed out on winning league, and I knew the team was discouraged. It lead me to re-focus my own efforts and helped me to become a more determined runner, who was always looking forward to the next meet, practice or season.
The following year, I gathered other runners on the team and held practices in the off seasons, because I knew they wanted to win as much as I did. I put in more work in the off season and found myself getting more in shape. The determination, miles, and work during the offseason paid off and I lead my team to a perfect 9-0 season, winning league for the first time in 15 years.