On November 4th, in Pasco Washington, a woman was screaming from the sidelines of the State Cross Country Race. The woman was Timberline’s Coach Jamie Sullivan, cheering on Freshman Amaya Brown. The significance of this moment is that this is only the second year that Coach Sullivan has been the designated head girls coach of the Cross Country Team. In fact, this was only the second season where the position even existed at all.

The new addition of this position has led to the ability of the coaches to be more focused on the specific needs of the athletes, especially the girls within the team.

“Athletes have been able to come to me with things that I don’t think they would have otherwise spoken up about,” Sullivan said. Sullivan believes that the girls are able to develop a relationship with her, and feel more comfortable sharing things they otherwise would not have. She is also able to curate more to the needs of the girls, with issues that may affect them more, such as issues with food or body image.

The new position also allowed for the girls on the team to have a new role model for how to handle sportsmanship and team morale.

The girls were very connected and as one. “Our biggest struggle this year, with morale, came in the form of injuries,” Sullivan stated. Kiana Blume, one of the team’s top athletes, was sidelined for a month because she got a fractured shin. This being said, the team banded together, taking care of each other despite this, and not letting this blow affect the moral of the team as a whole.

“It’s a safe place, my teammates have always been very nice and welcoming,” Brown explains, as a newcomer.

“There is no drama on the team. Everybody gets along, and like, everyone likes everybody,” Blume said similarly. She goes on to answer the question of who on the team she finds most inspiring by saying “Well for me, it’s like all of them. We all cheer for each other, and no matter if she’s like fast or slow, she can inspire you because she still runs, and she is still bettering herself.” 

She says the team is truly a place for other girls to go and better themselves without judgment from their peers.

“I mean, I think everything starts at the top and the type of team culture that you create. If you’re enthusiastic and supportive with runners, they will, I think, in turn be supportive and enthusiastic too,” Sullivan said. The team is supportive of each other, especially at races, cheering everyone on and supporting their success, largely due the example set by Coach Sullivan.

The great benefits of the position extend beyond just helping the girls on the team. “People respond to different types of coaching, every coach has a little bit something different that they offer,” Sullivan stated. With more coaches being on the roster, all of the athletes have more resources at their disposal. Even Coach Sullivan is available for any of the boys on the team when they need her.

Because of the new environment and conditions, more girls than ever have joined the sport. Blume said, “They should just do it. Every person on the team who thought they couldn’t do it, every size and shape did it. And we cheered them on for it.” Similarly, Brown said when asked whether perspective members should be nervous said “No, never nervous because it’s really welcoming. And even if you’re not the best to start, our team is still gonna welcome you and help you out.” 

The addition of the head girls coach on the cross country team has aided in many ways, especially in making a more supportive and inclusive environment for those on the team. Coach Sullivan urges those who are conflicted about joining the team to “take the plunge” and try it out!