By Allison Peck
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — North Platte High School cross-country runner Layla Thomas is making an immediate impact during her first season with the team.
Thomas has been named the latest North Platte Student-Athlete of the Week after putting together a pair of strong performances at recent invitationals.
Thomas captured first place at the Kearney Invite before finishing third at the McCook Invite. While the two races presented different challenges, Thomas said both experiences helped push her as a runner.
“Kearney was great, and it was just good to have some competition,” Thomas said. “McCook was kind of difficult, but that was a good challenge to have with all the hills and stuff.”
Now in her first year of cross-country, Thomas said she is still learning what it takes to compete in the sport, but has quickly developed a dedication to improving.
“I’m just still kind of figuring things out, I guess,” Thomas said. “But, yeah, I’m really kind of dedicated to it.”
For Thomas, challenging courses and strong competition provide additional motivation. She said those challenges push her to keep improving and find out how good she can become.
A major part of that motivation comes from her teammates.
Thomas said her teammates were actually one of the reasons she decided to try cross-country in the first place. The close-knit group has helped make the experience enjoyable both during practices and away from competition.
“We’re just all really good friends, and it’s a good team in general,” Thomas said. “The bus rides are always super fun, and practice is always fun.”
Thomas said simply showing up each day and proving herself is part of what keeps her motivated.
And when it comes to fueling up before a race, Thomas pointed to one cross-country tradition: spaghetti feeds. The team uses the meals to load up on carbohydrates ahead of competition.
As she continues her first season, Thomas will look to build on her strong finishes at Kearney and McCook while continuing to learn and improve alongside her teammates.
Watch the full interview with North Platte Student-Athlete of the Week Layla Thomas above.