Junior Abigail (Abi) Bass broke the ribbon at state for the first time ever. After training all season for that moment, she reached her goal of scoring first at state.

Bass secured first place at the UIL 4A state cross country meet on Nov. 5 with a time of 11:07–10 seconds ahead of the second place runner.

“When I broke the ribbon, I was immediately overwhelmed with tears of joy and gratitude,” Bass said. “To finally become state champion after all of the demanding workouts, early mornings, and hard work was a feeling of pure relief and joy. This past year has not been easy, and I am so grateful to have some amazing people in my life who were there for me every step of the way.”

Bass has been running for most of her life so it is no surprise how dedicated she is. She first started competing when she was in middle school and has not slowed down since.

“I started jogging with my dad when I was really young and so I signed up for cross country in sixth grade,” Bass said. “I completely fell in love with the sport and started to take it seriously during my eighth grade year.”

This season Bass has been training hard in order to be in her best shape, mentally and physically, which helped her score the gold.

“Leading up to state, I knew that I had done everything I could to be the fastest and the strongest that I could be,” Bass said. “In past years, I have struggled with a lot of self doubt, and so a mindset of confidence and a belief that I could win were vital.”

Although Bass won gold as an individual, she could not have gotten where she is today alone.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the many people who have helped me get to where I am now,” Bass said. “I am so thankful for my coach, Coach Hernandez, for being there for me through all of the trials of this past year. For my family, who have supported this dream and encouraged me to strive for greatness. And for my team. These girls mean everything to me, and I’m so thankful for each and every one of them. They have truly become a second family, and cross country, a second home.”

Bass will race again on Dec. 4 at the Running Lane Nationals and will continue to compete in the upcoming seasons.

“For me, running is stepping outside of my comfort zone,” Bass said. “It is the ability to push myself harder each day, mentally and physically. It is the chance to work hard, be disciplined, and to dedicate everything to achieve one goal. And it has given me a family, my team, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.”