Prescott’s cross country season was nothing short of special with the girls team being the first cross country squad in school history to make it to State and the boys team also having a strong season.

To accomplish that much takes a list of great runners, and that is something Prescott had no shortage of. Among the top runners, the dynamic duo of sophomore Kyra Dix and junior Amber Van Loon etched their names into the history books.

Dix ran cross country for the first time this season after being a track standout for Prescott in the distance events as a freshman. Each event, she seemed to get a little better and a little better, finishing among the leaders every time.

It all came together in the State meet when Dix beat the school record held by Victoria Simones with a time of 19:33 to finish 18th individually. Hoisting the gold shoes Prescott gives to its runners that post a personal best time was the perfect way to reflect on the season.

“Yeah, beating Victoria’s record seemed so far away at the beginning of the season, but as I got closer and closer to the end I realized there was a chance I could do it,” Dix said. “Once I was hit by this realization after the sectionals meet it became my final goal for the season. After crossing that finish line at state I felt like the most accomplished person on the planet, I was literally jumping for joy.”

Van Loon took a different route to the top, being Prescott’s top runner in the 2023 season and expanding on it this year. While Van Loon enjoyed plenty of personal success this year, the year that the team had meant even more.

“I really loved the team that we had this year, and will miss all the seniors,” Van Loon said. “The whole team worked well together in and out of practices and meets. We knew how to cheer each other on and hype each other up.”

Van Loon’s Middle Border Conference personal best time of 21:01 to finish 11th place was a highlight of the season, earning second team all-conference. The time was good for sixth all-time for the Prescott girls team. Van Loon finished 84th in the State meet with a time of 21:03.

“I am also very proud of PR’ing at Middle Border Conference and almost at State too,” Van Loon said.

The two now move onto the spring where they both plan to continue honing their crafts.

“A goal for my last year at Prescott would be to get under 21 minutes in my 5k, maybe even to 19 minutes. I think it would also be really fun to go to state again next year,” Van Loon said.

Dix, who is involved in a plethora of activities including the school musical, dance team and singing, has one passion that shines above the rest: running.

“Running is my main passion, my favorite healthy outlet and something that just makes me so incredibly happy,” Dix said.

Dix has hopes of ensuring the extremely high bar set both individually and as a team are matched next year and has a plan in place to do so.

“After this season of cross I have pretty high hopes for this upcoming track season. I really aspire to go to state in the 3200 and hopefully, possibly beat Victoria’s record also in the 3200,” Dix said. “I feel that this next season will be one to look forward to and I am so excited to get back to running after a short break.”

Head Coach Tim Philips had nothing short of good things to say about the duo, as they helped establish a team culture the Cardinals want to continue on for years to come.