Sophomore Shira Wenthe is the new GDS record holder in the women’s five-kilometer race. She set the record at the cross-country DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Championships at Kenilworth Park on Saturday, Nov. 2. The GDS men’s and women’s teams each took fourth place overall at the meet.
Wenthe competed for the women’s varsity A team. Her time was 18:19.99, breaking the previous record of 18:27, held by Katherine Treanor ’16.
At the Independent School League (ISL) championships the week prior, Wenthe had a time of 18:53:46.
With the record time, she earned a spot on the podium, placing third in her race. Junior Georgia Kaufman and freshman Nikki Smallwood each placed in the top ten for their races as well.
Wenthe has been running cross country and track since she was in third grade at Janney Elementary School. She went to Alice Deal Middle School and took a break from the sport in eighth grade but came to GDS her freshman year and started to run for the cross-country team.
Wenthe said that seeing her hard work pay off is what keeps her going through the draining cross-country season. She said she believes that being “alert and aware, and constantly pushing yourself” is a crucial part of staying motivated and successful in the sport.
Junior Charlotte Glendinning, who mentored Wenthe last year, said “watching her progress has been really amazing.”
Glendinning said Wenthe has “gotten so much better by a magnitude of minutes per week,” this season especially. She knew that Wenthe had the five-kilometer record in her sights, but said it was “crazy it came so quickly.”
In Wenthe’s time at GDS, she has gone from a time of about 26 minutes to 18:19.
Glendinning also emphasized Wenthe’s commitment to the team, saying that she “helps out with the younger kids and is a good team player.” As for her training, Glendinning said, “she puts in the work, and she goes out there and gets the workouts in.”
Wenthe described how she prepares before a big race. The night before, she tries to get a good night’s sleep. “Right before the race,” she said, “I try to stay focused on the start line, and on what I can do.” She emphasized the importance of trusting herself, and “not bringing yourself down, not talking to yourself negatively.”
She said her community and the people she surrounds herself with make running enjoyable. “My teammates are what make it fun,” she said.
“A lot of PRs happened at this last race, and it was really nice to see how the team has progressed with both their times and their confidence as runners,” junior Alexandra Solomon said.
“She never missed an off-season summer workout,” sophomore Helena Oscherwitz said. “She always put her best effort in, whether during the season or during a workout.”
“She is a pillar to the team,” Glendinning added. “Her performance is a reflection of how the team has done this season as a whole.”
The next meet for Wenthe and the cross-country team is Nike Cross Regionals, taking place on Nov. 23 in North Carolina. Wenthe will compete in the Southeast region, and if the team does well, they will compete at Nationals.