Captain Emma Hagstrom ’25 has stepped up as a leader for the Girls Cross Country team, even as she navigates a challenging injury this season. Despite her limited ability to compete, Hagstrom has shown remarkable dedication, supporting her teammates in every way she can. From motivating runners at practice to providing valuable race-day guidance, her influence goes beyond the physical aspects of the sport.
Inspired by her mother’s background in running, Hagstrom first explored cross country in middle school. She reflected on the demanding mental and physical challenges of the sport, which have been deeply rewarding due to the strong bonds she’s been able to build with her teammates.
“I first started running cross country and track in middle school and it was because my mom did it. And she really liked it, so I wanted to do it too. My favorite aspect of cross country would probably be the mental toughness that it builds and also people that I’ve met. It takes a really tough person to be able to stick with cross country especially because you’re trying to run your hardest over three miles, which is already really hard. It’s the challenge that draws in some of the most dedicated and supportive people that I’ve ever met and I’ve met some of my best friends on the cross country team,” said Hagstrom.
Tasha Bohorad ’26 described Hagstrom as quiet and humble, yet extremely hard-working. She has a get-it-done mindset, giving her all to each practice without making a big deal out of the challenge.
Bohorad said, “She works very silently; she’s very humble about her work ethic. She just will say, ‘Okay, we have a workout today,’ and then she’ll do the work and she knows that she’ll do it to the best of her ability. She doesn’t make it the whole thing, she just does the work, and I really admire that.”
Hagstrom leads by example, consistently acting as a role model for her teammates. Even after a foot injury earlier in the season, she remains committed to mentoring her team, helping them see the value in every part of the sport, including the activities that may seem trivial at first glance, like stretching.
“I try to lead by example, which is honestly kind of challenging this season because I broke my foot early on in the season… I try to just lead by example and do all the little things so that they see that and they wanna do it. So, for example, I do things like core after practice or doing my foot rehab or just stretching after practice. I want them to see me do it and also want to do it too. This really helps them understand that we do the things that we do to get better, not just to waste our time,” said Hagstrom.
Anya Budzinski ’26 praised Hagstrom’s work ethic, noting how she sets the standard for the rest of the team. She elaborated on her appreciation for the positive energy Hagstrom spreads and noted how the team is motivated by her dedication and work ethic.
“She works so hard and is one of the hardest-working people that I know. She really sets the tone for the team in a lot of ways. In workouts, she goes out and gives everything she has every day. She’s always encouraging everyone and [pushing] herself in practice really hard every day. [That set] the challenge for the team when I was new and that motivated me to do the same,” said Budzinski.
Upon arriving at Andover, Hagstrom recalls being shy, with her former Captains encouraging her to push beyond her comfort zone. Now, as Captain this season, she strives to embody the same inspiring presence her past leaders displayed.
Hagstrom said, “I wanted to become Captain after some of my Captains in my lowerclassmen years really helped me open up. I was really shy when I was a lowerclassman and it was really hard for me to talk to people. The Captains on the team at that point in time [were] Natasha [Muromcew ’22] and Ashley [Song ’23], and they really helped me step outside my comfort zone and make new friends. They made me into the person I am today; I wanted to be able to do the same thing to other lowerclassmen on the team or just new people on the team who struggle to get to know people.”
Looking forward to the end of the season, Hagstrom hopes the team will continue their efforts, with numerous PRs throughout the season serving as a testament to their hard work. Additionally, as a Senior this year, Hagstrom plans to finish strong and pursue cross country and track into college.
Hagstrom said, “Right now, I’m planning to run cross country and track in college; We’ll see where I end up. As for the rest of the season, I really wanna continue what we have been doing this season. Everyone has been working really hard and getting PRs. I want to continue that hard work, especially as we go into our final races.”
