Intro:
During Sectionals, on Saturday, November 1st, the girls placed 7th out of 15th, advancing to State. The spirit that lies within the athletic teams throughout Elmwood Park High School is high. With discipline, dedication, teamwork, and hard work the girls cross country team was able to make it to state as a team. The Girls cross country team hasn’t made it to state as a team since 2013, making this a huge deal for the team. EPHS is a part of the Upstate 8 Conference and 2A.
Recap of State:
The girls arrived in Peoria on Friday, November 7th. State was located at Detweiller Park, in Peoria. On Saturday, November 8th, at 11 am, the 2A girls, including your Elmwood Park Tigers, ran. 5 out of the 7 Tiger runners finished with personal records. Seniors Camilla Budzyna, Kimberly Herrera, and Hailey Rivera; juniors Sarah Scheidt and Nicole Gorka; sophomores Oliwia Aleksandrowicz, Sonia Iversen, and Oliwia Krynska; and freshman Natalie Kopacz all had a chance to head down to State.
My view:
It was more than just a race at State, it was all the laughs and inside jokes that brought us all closer as a team. It started with an awkward send off parade that sent us to State. On the bus, we played various games until we arrived in Peoria for practice. Although we waited so long for our dinner, we finally got our pasta and were fueled for the race. We ended the night at the pool and braiding each other’s hair.
Meet the Girls Cross Country Coach: Kendal Ahlmann
The Girls Cross Country team is coached by Kendal Ahlmann, who has been with the team through the ups and downs. A quote Coach Ahlmann often tells the girls is “pain is temporary”, reminding them to push through even when it can be hard.
Coach Ahlmann’s view on the 2025 Season:
How do you feel about the girls advancing to State?
“I’m proud. These accomplishments have always been within reach for EP students; this group was simply willing to put in the work to get there.”
Do you think there is an opportunity for them to advance as a team in the upcoming years?
“Absolutely. Six of the nine runners are returning next year. This season’s State appearance gives us a clear goal and focus as we train through spring, summer, and fall.”
How did the team overcome any challenges or setbacks during the season?
“Our biggest challenge, which is common at EP, was a lack of shared vision. As a few athletes began seeing success and potential, the team bonded. Injuries and setbacks became less discouraging and more about rehabilitation and moving forward.”
What advice would you give to younger runners?
“Consistency is key. Improvement in anything takes time and steady effort. Show up every day and give what you can. See setbacks as part of the process, not the end. And if you stick with it long enough (longer than some of y’all’s relationships), you’ll find success.”
What were some highlights of the season?
“I define a highlight as an impactful memory, and several moments stand out. The Latin meet was a favorite because so many of you earned PRs, wore huge smiles, and had confidence (plus, shoutout to that taco truck). A recovery practice at Elm Middle School also stands out; the lines of kids waiting to race high schoolers down Cortland in the rain showed just how much they admire you. Our Tiger Invite was memorable for the team-bonding tie-dye that week and for the many coaches and parents who complimented EP athletes’ behavior — something I will always value more than fast times. And of course, State. This is not for the title, but for how close you were the entire trip. From the games on the bus, to waking up early to do hair and use an entire container of glitter, to comforting each other at the start line and running your hearts out. Your teamwork is what produced those PRs. I’m proud of you.”
What specific goals did you set for the team at the beginning of the season, and how well were those goals achieved?
“Mental perseverance. We’re still developing in that area, but we had several strong mental comebacks this season, and I truly believe we showed real growth.”
Meet The Seniors:
Camilla Budzyna
Even though Camilla Budzyna suffered through a hip injury that occurred during the Tiger invite, she still supported the Tigers in Conference, Regionals, and Sectionals. With rehab, she was able to return to the sport she loves and run at State.
Kimberly Herrera
Kimberly is more quiet than most people on the team, but she is also one of the sweetest people. She still pushes even when it gets hard and is always there for the team. Kimberly’s greatest memory is “from senior year where we had to wait for nearly 2 hours inside the bus because it was pouring outside, so we went back to the high school and did our workout there.”
Hailey Rivera
Hailey is the top runner for the girls cross country team. She has broken 20 minutes this season which is a huge accomplishment. Although she has problems with her hips, she is able to push through and still PR.
Seniors thoughts on the Cross Country Season:
Why did you start cross country?
“I didn’t want to do volleyball anymore and joining cross country was in the back of my mind for a while. A few weeks before the season, I randomly decided and started running.” -Camilla
“I loved playing tag in elementary school and just running around, so I promised myself that I would join both Cross Country and Track in high school.” -Kimberly
“My best friend wanted me to.” -Hailey
What makes cross country great as a sport?
“The environment and all of the teammates. We all want each other to succeed and are there to support each other through the good and bad. The coaches are also understanding and know when to push us and when to listen.” –Camilla
“Your teammates being there and supporting you while you’re running.” -Kimberly
“Cross country is great because it’s where I learned the most about myself. It pushed me, it grounded me, and it gave me the chance to be with an amazing team. There’s nothing like the feeling of finishing a race you didn’t think you could do.” -Hailey
What would you say is the hardest part of cross country? Was there anything this season that impacted you positively and/or negatively?
“The mental aspect of the sport is the hardest, especially trying to filter out the pain and bad thoughts. I hurt my hip towards the end of the season and it was very time consuming and initially hard to get myself back into running. I didn’t come back as the runner I once was, but I’m grateful to still have had the chance to support the rest of the team and eventually race one more time.” -Camilla
“The hardest part of cross country is pushing yourself physically but mostly mentally. You just always have to try and have a positive mindset.” -Kimberly
“The hardest part of cross country is the mental part. Those moments in a race when everything in you is screaming to stop, and you have to decide to keep going anyway. That’s the part that’s the most challenging, way more than the miles ever do. For this season, I had started to give up because I thought State was too out of reach. With the encouragement of my coaches and teammates, I kept pushing and I started to realize that State wasn’t so out of reach. This impacted me positively because now I know that the goals that seem impossible to reach are sometimes closer than I think.” -Hailey
What was your experience like at State? How was it challenging? How was it helpful? Explain.
“It was really fun. I grew closer to girls on the team, and a lot of funny memories were made. The race itself was challenging as I didn’t train as intensely leading up to it and mentally I wasn’t in a good head space before and during the race.” -Camilla
“I had so much fun at State. It was an incredible experience. It was challenging in that I got a sore throat the day of the meet and I wasn’t feeling good. Even though I had a sore throat, I still PR’d and I feel really happy about it” -Kimberly
“It was a very fulfilling experience. It was challenging because the pressure and competition felt way higher, but it also pushed me to see what I was really capable of running, which made me believe in myself more, and that feeling has stuck with me.” -Hailey
How do you feel about you and your team making it to State?
“It was well deserved. All of the effort and drive that the girls put into this season really showed.” -Camilla
“I was really happy when I heard the team had made it to State because the last time XC qualified as a team was in 2013.” -Kimberly
“I was so grateful to have made it to State with the team. We all worked very hard for this and it all paid off.” -Hailey
If your younger self saw what you’ve accomplished already in your life, how would she feel?
“She wouldn’t believe I was running for fun.” -Camilla
“My younger self would be so happy and proud because I’ve always been shy. I’ve never done a sport in my life, so being able to make it to State was a huge achievement.” -Kimberly
“She would definitely be surprised but also feel very proud of what she has accomplished.” -Hailey
Conclusion:
Whether it was bonding as a team at the hotel by braiding and putting glitter in each other’s hair or running our final race together, we were all there for each other, wishing the best for our teammates. The girls cross country season was able to end very well, as we saw many PR’s and so much improvement because of all the teamwork and support. With dedication and training this off season, the girls will come back stronger and better, leading to hopefully another great season.
