For the NPHS Cross Country team, the finish line isn’t just a place to stop running—it’s a testament to grit and determination. 

NPHS freshman runner Max Zapanta is a hardworking and focused athlete who is learning the power of perseverance. 

 Zapanta is one of those people who doesn’t give up easily, even when things get tough. He’s fast, motivated, and always trying to improve himself. He knows he’s not the best runner on the team, but he’s always pushing himself to get better.

“I joined cross country because I’m pretty mid, and I thought it would be fun to see how good I could actually get,” Zapanta said.

Zapanta has already had some awesome moments in his running career. One of his favorite memories was when he jumped up 53 spots during a freshman race that had 348 runners. He said it was his best race ever because he didn’t expect to move up that much. What that moment did was it made him realize how strong he really was, both mentally and physically.

This perseverance is something that Cross Country coach Meyer values in an athlete.  Meyer said that one of his favorite moments as a coach happened when the team was running hill sprints on Livingston Avenue. He said it was one of those rare practices where every single runner gave it their all. No one quit, and everyone pushed through until the very end. That moment, to him, showed what teamwork and dedication really look like.

“It was amazing,” he said. “Everyone ran the hardest they had all season, and nobody gave up.”

It isn’t always easy not to give up. During practices, Zapanta keeps himself going by thinking about how good it’ll feel when he gets home after he’s done. He says that thought alone pushes him through the hardest parts of the run.

“I tell myself, ‘Just get through this, and then you can go home’ It actually helps a lot when I start getting tired,” Zapanta said.

One thing he’s working on is fixing his form and getting faster each race.

“I learned that I’m actually faster than I thought,” said Zapanta.

Cross Country coach Meyer explained that the most difficult part about coaching freshmen is helping them build up the courage and confidence to run long distances. Many of them come into the team unsure about their abilities, but as the season goes on, he watches them become stronger and more confident.

“There’s so much potential in the freshmen, both boys and girls,” Mr. Myer said. “At the start, a lot of them don’t know the older runners that well, but as the season goes on, they all get more connected.”

Zapanta agrees that the cross-country team feels like a family. Everyone talks to each other, cheers each other on, and has fun even during the hardest workouts.

He says that being part of a supportive group makes running even better, especially when the races start to get stressful.

“The cross-country team is awesome,” Zapanta said. “No one gets left out, everyone’s friendly.”