There is an old cliché that says, "Hard work pays off." It would be difficult to argue against this statement, but if ever there was a doubter to the oft-used saying, there is evidence across the state of Louisiana that backs the claim of this particular cliché. One has only to point towards teams and individuals involved in high school cross country and track and field who have garnered district, metro, regional, or state championships to support their claims. To find one of the most recent examples that showcases the benefits of hard work, one need look no further than Moss Street, home of the resurgent Cabrini Crescents. With first year head coach Rudy Horvath at the helm, the Crescents finished as the District 11-4a runners up in last season's cross country championships. The highlight of the season, however, came at the State Championships in Natchitoches, La. Led by sophomore Lindsay Laws (13:05) and junior Courtney Taylor (13:34), who finished 12th and 20th, respectively, Cabrini garnered a fourth-place finish in the season's final race. Juniors Becky Smith and Nicole Freeling pushed each other throughout the race to take the 44 and 45 positions through the finish chute. Sophomore Melissa Newsom rounded out the Crescent's 163 points with a 58th place finish with a time of 14:37.
To many a casual observer, a fourth-place finish may seem trivial and newsworthy. Consider this fact: in the 2001 LHSAA State Championships, Cabrini finished 19th in a field of 22 cross country teams. The Crescents beat only three teams in the race. 365 days later and only three teams managed to beat that same team. Cabrini's sudden burst of success did not occur over night. Their march to respectability started at the finale of the 2001 cross country campaign. The team discovered improvement in the Spring over the course of the outdoor track season. With surging momentum from an encouraging track season, the distance runners dedicated themselves to the 2002 cross country campaign with full force. Starting in May, the core of the team met dutifully five days a week to work on developing their individual base in preperation for the upcoming cross country season. As with any endeavor, obstacles were presented and challenges were met. The team also dealt with the occasional setbacks incurred by cross country teams across the state. With it's lone senior in Elsie Reith providing invaluable leadership, combined with the efforts of the entire squad of over thirty girls, the Crescents distinguished themselves as the most improved in the state over a year's time. In just one year, Cabrini went from 19th best to 4th best in class 4A. Despite whatever obstacles stood in the way, in the end the Cabrini Cross Country team's perseverance shone through.
The path to success for these girls has not always been smooth, nor have they ultimately reached their intended destination - a state championship, a goal they share with every other team in Louisiana. Success doesn't happen over night, nor does it come without a price. In the end, there is no short cut to realizing success. The road to improvement lies in Hard Work. The cliché doesn't lie. Just ask Cabrini.