Nick Lee
Copy Editor
After finishing first in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state Championship, Senior Melia Chittenden was flown out to Portland Oregon to run in the Nike Cross Nationals to compete against the nation’s best runners.
Link: The Nike Cross Nationals website has the results from the race as well as upcoming events
Chittenden, along with the top four other runners from the state championship, were invited all expenses paid to run at Glendoveer Golf Course on December 3. Despite rough conditions due to extremely muddy hills, Chittenden was able to finished 71st with a time of 17:04 out of 200 other competitors.
“I wasn’t happy with my performance,” Chittenden said. “I wish I had focused more on sticking to the front group during the race and not getting lost in all the people.”
Glendoveer Golf Course was a three-mile race filled with many muddy hills which made it difficult to stay balanced. The course caused many competitors to fall including Chittenden who tripped over a girl that fell in front of her.
“Whenever I hit a muddy part in the race it was a difficult to keep myself going,” Chittenden said. “I wish I could have told myself to push through, but I ended up not knowing what place I was in throughout the race.”
On December 1st, Chittenden flew out to Portland where Nike had organized a planned agenda and her accommodations at the Embassy Suites. Chittenden was also assigned to room with the girl that had finished a second behind her in the state championship.
“At first I was kinda nervous to room with her because I had just beat her in the previous race,” Chittenden said. “I wasn’t sure if she was gonna be friendly or not, however, she was one of nicest people I met that weekend.”
The runners also, toured the Nike headquarters where they received over $700 in merchandise, such as shoes, warm-up pants, jackets and backpacks. The runners also got to do a Q&A with 8 different Olympic runners including Shane Flannigan and Mo Ferrah.
Link: Nike gave out free gear to all of the runners
“It was incredible to meet these people who have dedicated their entire lives to running,” Chittenden said. “It was great to see how their hard work had paid off.”
Although she placed 71st among 200 other competitors, Chittenden focused less on the competition and more on the experience itself.
“CIF and the state championship were much more important to me,” Chittenden said. “I focused more and directed all my energy towards that rather than this postseason race.”
After this year, Chittenden plans on continuing her running career in college. She has gotten offers from many colleges including Northwestern, Georgetown, Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania and Princeton. However, she is still undecided about where she will attend.
“I’m a little nervous to train with a new team and under a new coach,” Chittenden said. “At the same time, I’m incredibly excited to compete at a higher level and continue to improve.”
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