HEBRON, OH– After PR-ing at regionals on Oct. 27 at Boardman High School, Hoban senior Bridget Hahn and junior Hannah Schill are eager to represent Hoban at the OHSAA state championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 10 at National Trail Raceway.

“I’m definitely nervous and excited but looking forward to finally making it,” Hahn said. “The OHSAA had to push [the state meet] back one more week, as if four years of waiting wasn’t enough.”

Despite the delay, the girls’ motivation hasn’t wavered. If anything, the deferral might be a blessing in disguise— the longer the wait, the longer the season, and these spirited runners certainly don’t want their postseason run to end. This is especially true for senior Bridget Hahn, for whom the state meet marks the finale of her high school cross country career.

“[Cross Country practice] is the best part of my day, every day, and I’m going to miss it a lot next year,” Hahn said. “It’s been the best season ever, [and] the most successful in 15 years.”

Much of this success can be accredited to the veteran herself; throughout the 2018 season, she placed in the top nine percent at every meet, running an outstanding average pace of 6:22.

The enthusiastic Hannah Schill, a newcomer to the Hoban running program and transfer from Southeast High School, brings equal value to the team. A 6:38 average pace propelled her to success this season, though she selflessly attributes her victories to the team’s heartwarming sense of camaraderie.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been part of an actual full team, and I love being part of a group with the same goals and will to succeed,” Schill said. “I’ve made lifelong best friends, and I don’t want it to end. I want to do well for my team.”

All their incredible talent begs the impossible question: What’s the secret to success? The answer is simple: tacos, bagels and “Eye of the Tiger.”

“Before all of our postseason races, which are in the afternoon, I have a plain taco for breakfast, and everyone has pasta the night before,” Hahn said.

“I eat a bagel (half cream cheese, half peanut butter) and honey stingers in the morning, and a peanut butter sandwich 90 minutes before,” Schill added , “and I listen to “Eye of the Tiger” on the bus.”

Once successfully carbo-loaded to the heart’s (dis)content, they fight the pain together.

“Run with people. It would be so hard to do everything by yourself, but running with a team or friends makes it easy and fun,” Hahn said.

“Think about it like you get to run, not you have to run,” Schill added.  “Stay positive and give it time— don’t give up in the first few weeks of training.”

With can-do attitudes and speed to spare, the state meet in Hebron won’t be anything they can’t conquer…together.