St. Albert runner wins every race, sets state record
December 19, 2024
By Ryan Johnson, Contributing Writer
Imagine running your first high school cross country race and finishing first. Then, consider the endurance it takes to win every race of the season and set a new state meet record in under 18 minutes. That’s exactly what Lili Denton did this fall.
What’s even more amazing is Lili had never run cross country until the fall season. The junior at St. Albert Catholic in Council Bluffs traditionally played volleyball each new school year. Come spring, she traded her court shoes for running spikes for the school’s track team as a long-distance runner.
“I was in sixth or seventh grade when I started running,” said Denton. “My mom, Stephanie, motivated me. She used to run, and we’d run together.”
Based on her success running in 3,000 and 1,500 events in track, her coach, Bob Weidman, encouraged her to run on the cross country team in addition to playing volleyball. She managed to do both this fall and maintain academic success. It’s not the first time she’s competed in two sports in the same season. In addition to running on the track team, she plays for the high school soccer team.
Win after win
At her first cross country meet of the year in Glenwood, Denton ran a 17:57 in the girls varsity 5K race. Remarkably, it was her best time of the season. Although a fall sport and normally cooler than summer training, September and October were unseasonably hot, making for a grueling cross country season for Denton and her teammates.
As the season went on, Lili remained undefeated in her high school cross country meets. She qualified to run at the girls state cross country meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Saturday, Nov. 2. She not only finished first in Class 1A, she set a new state record for her class, finishing the 5K race at 17:59, nearly 30 seconds ahead of the next runner.
“I walked into every race with a clear mindset,” she said. “I ended up really liking it. I was glad that I went out for cross country and that I could do it in addition to volleyball.”
Rooted in Faith
Denton stays grounded in her success thanks to her Catholic faith. Her Catholic upbringing coupled with her education at Catholic schools provided the foundation she needs to maintain focus on her priorities in life, namely God and the Church.
Running and living our Catholic faith take discipline. The Bible speaks of discipline, including in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”
A routine helps Denton maintain her focus and her faith. This includes getting enough sleep, eating the right type of foods and preparing for each meet. Before each meet, she makes a mental checklist of what she needs and wants to accomplish.
“My faith plays a big role in my life, especially going to a Catholic school and going to Mass every Wednesday,” said Denton. “We have religion class four days a week. And attending Mass on weekends at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Council Bluffs.”
Before each race, Denton and her teammates gather together for a team prayer, further demonstrating their faith.
“At state, it was a bigger field of girls, and I didn’t really know what was going to happen,” said Denton. “I gave everything to God, knowing he had a plan for me.”
Looking ahead, Denton aspires to run cross country and track in college. No doubt she will take her faith with her regardless of where she continues her education and athletic competitions.