A bridge between runners of all experience levels, Captain Patricia Tran ʼ24 leads Girls Cross Country by showcasing persistence and grit. Through fostering interpersonal connections and building confidence in runners, Tran represents the values of the program.
Tran began her Cross Country journey at Andover, where she was originally keen on playing soccer. After deciding to do Cross County, Tran quickly clicked with the community, finding herself doing distance running all three seasons.
“At first, going into my Lower Fall, I thought I was going to do soccer but then somehow I just made the switch to cross country a few weeks before preseason, just because I wanted something I could do year round, and with distance running I can do cross country and distance track… I think I [stuck] with it because of the great community it has. I really just felt welcome[d] in that community,” said Tran.
Although Tran is recovering from an injury, she still dedicates her time into planning activities for the team and helping foster a connection between the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams. Olivia Isacson ʼ26 emphasized Tran’s ability to bridge the gap between runners by getting to know them and cheering them on from the sidelines.
Isacson said, “I think the thing that stands out to me the most is probably her involvement in practices and races because even though she isn’t running right now, she still has a bike so she follows us around and talks to us. I think she also goes beyond coaching Girls Cross Country because she also talks a lot to the boys team and tries to meet up and organize lots of activities.”
As someone who started running her Lower Year, Tran stresses ways to help the newer runners get comfortable with the sport. According to Tran, the team fosters an inclusive space for all experience levels where the primary focus of the team is growth.
Tran said, “I think I can connect with [new runners] and I’ll give them advice… I can be open-minded, empathize with them and know that everyone starts in a different spot. The best way I can support them is to just be there for them and talk to them and welcome them. And for the experienced runners it’s just a matter of pushing them, making sure they’re respecting their bodies and making sure they’re sleeping well, eating well, stuff like that.”
As a new Lower, Tara Menon ʼ26 immediately felt comforted by Tran’s leadership. Tran’s encouraging comments have helped push Menon to become a resilient athlete, greatly contributing to her confidence and success.
“She’s always supporting everyone. When we’re in practice, she’s always motivating me. She’s saying, ‘One more lap,’ she’s always there on the side helping me get through the workout. And when we’re not running, she’s still always giving us advice and being a really good friend,” Menon said.
Evie Wood ʼ25 shared a similar sentiment, highlighting Tran’s efforts of building the confidence of the runners on race day. By establishing a system of camaraderie, Tran shifts the sports’ dynamic from individual success to a more team oriented focus.
“During meets, my favorite thing about her is that she goes, travels up and down the course to cheer everyone on, and I love how enthusiastic she is to make sure that everyone feels supported. She leads all the warm-ups and answers questions, and she makes it feel like we’re a real team even though cross country is an individual sport,” said Wood.
Tran feels honored to be the Captain of a program that she has cherished for years. Captaincy has helped her maintain the legacy of Girls Cross Country through contributing in her own special way.
“I think having people look up to you is a very special feeling. Looking back two years ago, I was just starting the sport and had no clue what I was doing. So I looked up to the people who were winning races and a lot older, a lot stronger than me, and the fact that people are now looking up to me is something very special,” said Tran.
