The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

Time Out with Kevin Drake

Cross country captain Kevin Drake shares what running with his “family” means to him

By Staff Writer Jennifer Fortman

This week “The North Star” caught up  with NNHS boys cross country captain, senior Kevin Drake, to discuss what he hopes to achieve this year and his goals moving forward. Last week, Drake placed 1st overall in the open race at the DuPage Valley Conference meet with a time 15:47, enough to qualify for a spot on the regional team.

Drake’s also ran favorably at St. James Farm Forest Preserve this season, crossing the finish at 15:58 and coming in 7th place.  He ran 15:51 in Peoria at the First to the Finish Invitational, placing 89th.

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Q: What is the best thing about your sport?

A: It would definitely be the team aspect. We constantly push each other to be the best that we can be as well as just being genuine friends to each other. It really is something special to me and something I am going to miss a lot next year.

Q: What is the worst thing about your sport?

A: The worst part is when you come up short of what you know you are capable of, especially in races. We all hold ourselves to high standards and we know when we have sold ourselves short. That is always the worst feeling, to let your team down.

Q: How far do you want to go with your sport?

A: Personally, I want to run the rest of my life. I have never loved something like running before, so I definitely see it in my future. However, I do not plan on running cross country in college.

Q: What’s the most important contribution you make to your team?

A: I hope that I make a contribution of bringing the team together and promoting a family perspective to everyone on the team. Being a part of our family is such a big part of our team, so I hope that I have provided the compassion and [been] welcoming to everyone on the team in that sense.

Q: How have you evolved as an athlete over the years?

A: I have evolved through the last four years in understanding exactly where I should be in my training and what I need to focus my energy towards during summer and during the season.

Q: What coaches/mentors have inspired you over the years?

A: Coach Racey, Coach Brown, and Coach Brodeur all have meant so much to me over the past years, pushing me to where they know I should be and helping me through my injuries. Additionally, the guys that I have run with over the past four years, specifically the juniors and seniors, constantly inspire me to continue to push myself in every workout we do. Without, them I don’t know where I would be.

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Time Out with Kevin Drake