***Kendall Vincent is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

Editor’s note: This story was written before last Saturday’s state cross country finals. The Titans placed 21st among the 30 teams in the finals.

For the Annawan Wethersfield Titan Cross Country team, the road to the state meet has been a journey of perseverance, growth, and unwavering determination. This year, the Titans accomplished what no team in the program’s 17-year history had ever done before—qualify for the state meet.

“It feels incredible,” said Head coach Creston Fenn, reflecting on the team’s historic achievement. “I am so proud of the team they’ve become. Karson and Logan’s freshman year, we finished 10th out of 11 teams at regionals, and we didn’t even come close to qualifying for sectionals. Back then, we actually thought the team ran well. Ever since then, they’ve been building something special. To see them go from there to one of the best teams in the state is truly remarkable.”

The Titans’ qualification for state has been the culmination of years of hard work, not just in their preparation for the season, but in their overall growth as athletes and teammates. Coach Fenn emphasized the incredible progress made since that disappointing regional performance. “They’ve never settled for just being average. Every year, they’ve pushed themselves to be better—not just as individuals, but as a team.”

This historic achievement holds special significance not only for the team but also for the Annawan Wethersfield community. “This is something our program has strived for since its inception 17 years ago,” said Fenn. “While we’ve had individual runners qualify for state in the past, we’ve never had a full team make it. After we qualified, I received so many messages from past runners who were just as excited as we were. It means so much to them, and it’s a huge step forward for the program.”

The path to state is never easy, and the Titans’ preparation for this momentous occasion began long before the regional meet. Since June, the team has been running hundreds of miles, pushing their bodies to the limit. However, Fenn noted that physical training is only part of the equation in cross country. 

“Physical training is the easy part. You either show up and do the miles, or you don’t. The mental side is the hardest part of running,” he explained. “During a race, you’re out there for 15 to 19 minutes, and it only takes one second of self-doubt to lead to a bad race. But it takes mental toughness—believing you can keep going no matter the situation—to finish strong.”

This mental toughness has been a focal point of the Titans’ training all season. Fenn often reminds the team to “win more moments than you lose.” 

“In every race, there will be tough moments, and you’ll lose some. But the best athletes don’t give up after one setback,” he said. “They push through the tough moments and stay focused on the next challenge. The hardest part of running is just not giving up, no matter what. And when you’re a person who never gives up, you’re hard to beat.”

As the team headed to state, Fenn emphasized that the experience, win or lose, is a celebration of the hard work they’ve put in and the growth they’ve achieved.

“I want them to realize that they are greater than they ever imagined. Hard work and perseverance can take you further than you think. We’re not just going to state to race—we’re going to celebrate everything they’ve put into something they love.”

This season has been an especially rewarding one for Coach Fenn, despite facing health challenges of his own. “Watching these young men grow into the team they’ve become has been the most rewarding part of coaching this season,” he said. “I’ve had to rely more on my assistant coaches and the team’s captains to step up, and they’ve done an incredible job. I’m so proud of them for believing in themselves and in each other, even when I wasn’t able to be as involved as I’d like to be.”

Looking ahead to the state meet, Fenn had one simple message for the Titans: “Have fun. You’ve earned this. You’ve worked so hard, and no matter the outcome, this is a moment to enjoy. You are all capable of great things, and I have no doubt you will run your best race yet.”

For the Annawan Wethersfield Titan Cross Country team, this season is a testament to their growth, dedication, and belief in themselves. As they head to state for the first time in school history, they carry with them the pride of a community, the support of past runners, and the knowledge that anything is possible when you never give up.