From the minute sophomore Kaitlyn Burns started on the girls’ cross country team last year, she was determined, supportive, and positive, Natalie Sells, Cross Country Head Coach, said. Burns has won two meets so far this season; additionally, during her last season, she was the only freshman at South to make it to state, Sells added. 

Burns began her running journey as a freshman. She has been on varsity cross country ever since, an impressive fact as there are only seven girls on varsity, Meaghan Fastert, Assistant Cross Country Coach, said.

“The fact that Kaitlyn had qualified her freshman year is outstanding …we have not had a state qualifier as a freshman I want to say ever,” Fastert said.

Due to her past involvement in soccer, Burns had former experience with running. Over the past two seasons her running has improved along with her love for the sport, Burns said.

“I [have] grown a lot [on the team],” Burns said. “I [have] become more confident and I know more about running now than I did when I started.” 

As a freshman and now as a sophomore, Burns has had many senior teammates to look up to. 

  “The seniors explained the ups and downs of every meet before we ran it,” Burns said. “They ran with me and pushed me at practice every day of my freshman year.”

Along with her Senior teammates, Burns is also very encouraging, Sells said. At the Crystal Lake tournament on Sept. 2, Burns finished the race quickly and ran back to the course after completion to cheer for the girls on her team who were still finishing, Sells explained. 

“At the end, she was congratulating our teammates and girls on other teams,” Sells said. “She [is] an awesome teammate and human.” 

Burns keeps a steady mindset and loves to take on new challenges which is what makes her such an asset, Fastert said. She is not afraid to take feedback and is always trying to find ways she can improve, which allows her to inspire her teammates, Fastert explained.

“Being an athlete who is talented, coachable, and is able to relate to their teammates [is what]  sets [Burns]  apart,” Fastert said.