Charlotte S came to the United States after moving here from Oman on August 3rd. Two days later she started training as a member of the Village School cross country team. On Saturday, October 31st, Charlotte S competed and won the TAPPS 4A State Championship for Girls Cross Country. Competing against a field of over 200 runners and the best competition in the state, Charlotte was victorious on the biggest stage in all of high school sports.

Charlotte experienced a lot of success throughout her season. She was top 5 in every meet she competed in. She was an extremely hard worker, logging more than 40 miles per week during her training. She was also no stranger to adversity. Charlotte battled a quad injury throughout the season. With the help of Head Coach, Scott Mastro, and our Athletic Trainer, Adriana Ditmore, Charlotte was able to manage her injury while still being able to train and compete in meets.

After reflecting on the season, Charlotte shared her thoughts by saying, “This cross country season was amazing! Great team spirit and the best support anyone could ask for. All of us went through tough times, but as a team we never failed to support each other through it. And our coaches were the best anyone could ask for, getting up at 5:00am everyday!!! Overall it was a great season, and of course I was ecstatic to be able to finish it off with becoming state champion.” This was definitely a close-knit group of kids. They competed together, helped each other battle through the pain and struggles of a long season, and celebrated each other’s success. After each meet, a different team member would host a pool party for everyone to enjoy. This bond certainly strengthened the relationships and made each member fight and compete for one another.

After asking Head Coach, Scott Mastro, about Charlotte’s amazing accomplishment, he replied by saying, “The challenges Charlotte faced over the course of the season make her accomplishment all the more remarkable.” This quote certainly speaks volumes on the intestinal fortitude of Charlotte. She overcame a lot and came out stronger and better because of it. When asked about his observations during the State Championship, Coach Mastro said, “What amazed me the most was how thoroughly she dominated the race. She led after the first mile, and in the worst of conditions, just pulled away.”

On behalf of the Village Athletic Department and school, we would like to say thank you, and congratulations on your achievement!

WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZRoDeU4QME&feature=youtu.be