Lily Paul competes at Nationals for cross-country

After a successful year running for the Mavericks, the runner competed in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Sunday

Bobbi Patrick
Staff Writer

This past weekend, senior cross-country runner Lily Paul made her debut at the Division II National Cross Country meet held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The course, which was held on the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, which consisted of a 2K loop, the women had to run around the loop about three times into the finish. The men had to run about five laps to make it to their 10K finish.

Heavy snow a week prior to the race, proceeded by warm temperatures made the course a cross country runner’s worst nightmare for a national course. The course had several hills as well as tight turns, which consisted of many mudslides. Just before the race, a heavy rain started with the women’s race.

“Finishing was the number one thing I was thinking about,” said Lily, “Honestly, the conditions sucked so bad I just couldn’t wait to finish. My whole entire family were there as well as my three best friends, and my coach. I knew they were proud of me no matter what,” she said.

Paul finished 145th out of 264th, respectable due to the conditions handed to her. All of her family were there to watch, including her two older sisters who competed for MSU a few years prior. 

Paul’s older sister, Ali Paul, was the last women’s cross country individual qualifier for MSU nine years prior to Lily Paul.

“My oldest sister, Ali, set the bar high of being a national contender, so she has been a huge part of my motivation. Never was her path seen as a standard that I had to reach, though. When my sister was an athlete she ran every race well because she physically could….my season was a portrayal of my hard work and the focus I put into my training,” said Lily.

As a senior, Paul finished out her final season on the women’s cross-country team, but her year isn’t quite done as she looks ahead to indoor and outdoor track season.

“A lot of ‘lasts’ happen in senior year so to have my last cross-country race be against the best of the best at the national championships was exactly how I hope it to end,” said Paul.

As for track she is holding her stakes high, looking to compete against the “best of the best” again.

“Let’s see if I can make nationals again! It will be more difficult but I believe I can do it. And this time I won’t have to worry about running in the mud.”

Lily hopes to take nationals when she competes on the track & field team this season for her final season with the team.

Feature photo by Bobbi Patrick | MSU Reporter.