Fords Middle School Cross Country has made it to the championships once again! The big day took place at Merrill Park on June 3, 2025. All five middle schools were in attendance, including Fords, Colonia, Iselin, Woodbridge, and Avenel Middle Schools.
I also happened to be a part of the championships. I felt eager to be a part of the big event and proud of myself for being able to make it in the top 7. I knew deep down that I had worked hard and pushed myself to be a part of the big day.
I wasn’t the only one involved though. I have interviewed three fantastic runners that were a part of the exciting event. Starting off, Joshua from 7th grade, who injured his leg during the race. When I saw him, he was on crutches. I asked him what happened to cause the fall and he reported, “I was running on the last corner and my knee popped and I fell to the ground and hurt my leg.” I followed up with inquiries about his injury and he told me, “It’s a tiny bone next to the tibia. It’s split but it’s so small that it was considered a fracture.” I was interested to know how he felt in those moments of hurting his leg, and he told me, “I feel I let my team down because I was literally on the last corner. I just feel bad.” By looking at him I could tell he felt awful about the incident. “Things do happen sometimes,” I told him.
The next person I interviewed was Elora from 7th grade. She was super excited for the interview. I wanted to know how she felt about being in the championships, and her response was, “I was really nervous at first because my friend said that it would be really hard but in the moment I was really hyped. While I was running I was like ‘I can’t breathe!’ but I felt free, y’know.” While we discussed how she felt after the race, she stated, “I was very disappointed that I didn’t get the top ten, but I was glad I got the same place as my friend, 19th place.”
Eesa from 6th grade also shared some insight about his standings. He said “I got second, but I’m not sure what time I had gotten.” When I asked how he felt about earning second place, he told me, “It was a feeling of growth, change, and happiness.” I then asked him for his thoughts on doing Cross Country next year and he said eagerly, “I look forward to it! I’m ready to see the new team next year and seeing some of the old kids.” To end our conversation, I asked him about whether cross country is enjoyable to him, since it’s so challenging. “So, I think Cross Country is enjoyable, because of the people you’re with and the change that happens. I also think Mrs. Garcia and Mr, Zammit are great coaches.”
I have been doing cross country for a total of three years now. I’m currently a 8th grader who is graduating. Cross Country is a very enjoyable sport. Not only is it healthy to run, but it also helps with your emotions. I’m going to miss doing Cross Country for Fords Middle School. This has been an unforgettable experience. I suggest you try out Cross Country for yourself or even just run around your block!
