11 don’t compete together. Benoit said she wishes she had a team to run with in the varsity races. While other teams warm up together and stand together on the starting line, Benoit stands alone in her Palco jersey. “It just makes me sad,” Benoit said. “I want to be part of that. I want to be part of their little prayer circle before the race and get pumped up like they do.” In order to challenge herself, Benoit also trains with Palco resident Natalie Knipp — a 25-year-old who competes in long distance races for fun. “She is amazing,” Benoit said. “She really inspired me to keep running and do my best. She runs six miles a day every day and sometimes more.” Getting in the front of the photo The last two years, Benoit’s finished on the brink of not medaling at the state meet. Because of her 20th- and 19th-place finishes, she had to line up on the back row of the Class 2-1A state awards podium for the group picture. Benoit said she wants to improve and make the top 10, partly because she wants to be in the front row for the photo. “They couldn’t see me because I was short,” Benoit said. “I want to be in the top 10, so I can be in the front row.” Improving that much will be a challenge, especially in the girls’ race. “It’s always a big challenge, because you get all these freshmen and sophomore girls who come in,” Robinson said. “A lot of times freshmen and sophomores are faster than they are when they are juniors and seniors. You have to work that much harder (to compete with them).” Benoit also would like to continue her running career at the collegiate level, and she’s been contacted by several colleges. Right now, she’s shooting for NAIA schools and community colleges. For Benoit, running has become a lifestyle choice. “I’m kind of addicted to it,” she said. “I feel like it’s not a good day or my day’s not complete if I don’t run. It’s a good stress reliever. When you’re worried about a test or a boy, you go out and run and forget about it. It’s nice.”
The Palco High School cross country team: From left, McLaughlin, Benoit and Schwab run up the hill during a practice in October in Palco.