Breaking a school record is never easy, but senior Everett Lynch and sophomore Owen Comes believe they are within reach of the boys cross country record of 15 minutes, 46 seconds for a 5k.
“Hopefully, we can break it this year,” Comes said. “We’re both close, less than 20 seconds away.”
The pair has been training extremely hard throughout the season, head coach Jeff Landis said.
Comes faced some setbacks, Landis said. He has been slowed down by shin splints and missed two meets but is staying fit through biking and swimming, he explained.
Lynch said he has sharpened his pace by repeating a three-mile interval at 5 minutes, 5 seconds per mile, mimicking record pace.
“It helps me lock into the pace I’ll need on race day,” he said.
Lynch said he doesn’t feel any additional pressure despite being so close to breaking the school record.
“The championship season hasn’t even started yet,” he said. “That’s when it gets real. Right now we’re just focused on getting better.”
Lynch and Comes’ progress comes from following the team’s long-standing training plan, Landis said.
“We’ve used the same approach for 25 years, gradually progressing through the season so we’re ready in October,” Landis explained. “If they follow the process, the times will come, and the hard work will pay off.”
Landis said they have hard long runs in the beginning of the season and toward the end of the season have shorter high intensity runs preparing them for the postseason.
The work includes pushing each other in practice and races, Comes explained.
“Usually, Everett takes the first mile fast, and I close strong,” he said. “It balances out.”
The two said they are not only motivated by breaking the school record but by their personal long-term goals.
Lynch said he hopes to run a 15:34 race this fall, a time he believes will strengthen his application to the U.S. Naval Academy.
“It’s more than just the record,” he said. “It’s about setting myself up for my future, and this is my last chance.”
Comes said he wants to focus on improving his times this season. Since he is a sophomore, he added, he still has two more years left to grow.
“I’m just trying to get better every meet,” he said. “Maybe one day, I can get close to winning states and running in college.”
For both Lynch and Comes, the team environment is just as important as personal achievements.
“Cross country is different from track,” Comes said. “Your teammates can run around the course, yelling encouragement. It makes a huge difference and can push you harder.”
Landis said the pair’s leadership and achievements contribute to the growth of the team as a whole.
“Everett and Owen show younger runners what hard work looks like,” he added. “The freshmen feed off of it. Everyone pushes the next person all the way to the top. It’s kind of cool to see it play out.”
Published and digitized October 2025.
