HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Xavier's Schmitt loves running these days

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By Katherine Bauer, Xavier junior

CEDAR RAPIDS - For many cross country participants, running always has been a big part of their lives.

This, however, is not exactly true for Xavier senior Jacob Schmitt.

'I did not always love running,' the senior captain said. 'I'd say as I got used to it and started to do it more, I began to enjoy it.'

The 18-year-old Schmitt was ranked the ninth fastest high school runner in Iowa this season and is the top runner for the Saints. He placed fifth at the Linn-Mar Invite and 22nd at the Cedar Rapids Invitational in September.

'I definitely feel more pressure to do well,' Schmitt said. 'I know that I'm the fastest, so I feel that I should lead every practice.'

Besides running cross country in the fall, Schmitt also is involved in track, bowling, and, as he says, 'the great sport of math.' He wants to perform well in all of his activities during his last year, including stepping it up at state cross country.

'If he keeps working the way he does and he stays healthy I think he will end up doing very well,' Coach Bryan Jones said.

Even though Schmitt has been running a long time, it does not get any easier. Jitters and conditioning always provide new challenges.

'No matter where we are or who we are competing against,' Schmitt said, 'I am all nerves. I'm just going to work hard in practice and run my own race.'

On Sept. 20 at the Cascade Invite on the Fillmore Fairways Golf Course, the Xavier boys' placed first and the girls'  second. Schmitt finished third with in a time of 17:38 and sophomore Jenny Dickes finished sixth in 16:23.

At the Eastern Iowa Classic, the girls' team ranked first overall. Dickes placed fourth with a time of 15:54 and senior Marinna Schroud placed eighth, finishing in a time of 16:26. The boys' placed second and Schmitt was ninth, running in 17:17.

The Saints are at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet today in Dubuque.