Corbin Starkweather enters her senior cross country season at Buhler High School with plenty of motivation and lofty goals.
After helping the Crusaders win back-to-back state championships, Starkweather is looking to lead Buhler to a third consecutive Class 4A state title while pursuing an individual championship of her own.
“I hope to lead my team to our third consecutive State Title this year,” Starkweather said. “We have a very strong group of girls who are willing to do the work and make that happen. I also am hoping to capture the State Title individually to top off my senior season.”
Starkweather spent the offseason preparing for another demanding season by consistently logging miles each week. She also incorporated strength training into her routine and worked to address weaknesses to help prevent injuries.
While her physical preparation has been a major focus, Starkweather said she wants to improve her mental toughness the most this season.
“I primarily focus on consistent mileage during the summer, but the workouts that I did do were on my own, which is also something that helps challenge my mental strength in running,” Starkweather said.
For Starkweather, summer training provides an opportunity to develop that toughness, particularly when conditions make running difficult.
“I go to work on that during my summer training because it is especially hard to want to get up in the morning to run in the heat and humidity,” she said.
Starkweather already has built an impressive resume during her high school career. As a junior, she placed third at the state cross country meet while helping Buhler capture its second consecutive state championship. She also won regional and league championships and posted a personal-best 5-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 36 seconds.
Her success continued during the track season. Starkweather won the Class 4A state championship in the 3,200 meters and finished runner-up in both the 1,600 and 4×800-meter relay. She also set the all-time Kansas state record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase.
Starkweather has established herself as one of Buhler’s most accomplished distance runners, holding school records in the 5K, 3,200, 2,000-meter steeplechase, 1,600, 4×800 and 4xMile.
Despite the individual accomplishments, Starkweather said her teammates remain one of the biggest reasons she is excited to compete in her final high school season.
“I am very excited for the upcoming season because I get to spend it with my team,” Starkweather said. “I have a wonderful team, with some of the best coaches and girls, who make all of the hard work worth it!”
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