With cross country season now in full swing, York-hi sat down with sophomore Daniel Klysh and got his take on running varsity this season and his predictions for the York Boys this year.

Daniel Klysh has been running cross country since he was in middle school. It all started as a way for him to spend time with his friends and get in better shape. Fast forward five years, and Klysh is now running as a part of York’s varsity squad. Running is no longer as much of a past time for him, as much as it is a lifestyle.

“Well starting in Middle School a lot of my friends at Visitation kind of got the idea of ‘hey let’s do cross country after school because it’s a place we can hangout and get in good shape,’” said Klysh. “That’s basically where it all started.”

Cross country is the most decorated program here at York. That being said, coming in as a freshman and having to transition from small middle school programs to one of the top high school programs in the country is a big step. To meet expectations athletes must be willing to give their all in practice and work out on their own.

“Besides all the physical stuff we have to do for cross country and running, it’s a lot of mental training,” said Klysh. “So when you hear that you have a hard workout, your first tendency is to get nervous or scared, but it’s all about staying positive and trusting your previous training. Kind of like knowing you’re going to get through it and it’ll make you a better runner.”

Following a season in which the York Boys Cross Country team finished third in the West Suburban Conference and 16th in Illinois, this year is one full of high hopes and expectations. This puts a lot of pressure on the runners, especially varsity guys like Klysh.

“I don’t really want to jump the gun on anything, but we’re looking really strong this year,” said Klysh. “Obviously, last year is in the back of our mind, but we want to bounce back and continue the legacy, just make everyone proud.”

As this season goes on, each day is an opportunity for everyone apart of the team to work hard and improve, individually and as a team. This Saturday, September 23rd, York will participate in one of their biggest meets of the year at Palatine. These meets are what really test runners to see what they are truly made of and how they team looks overall.

“Having those teammates with you and putting in all the miles, doing the hard workouts, definitely pushes you to do better,” said Klysh. “When you’re out there and you have a 12 mile workout, that seems nearly impossible to do on your own. But, when you’re running with your friends and teammates, it goes by a lot faster.”

When it comes to Daniel Klysh, he is an incredibly determined and hardworking athlete, especially when it comes to cross country. He is always pushing his limits and never takes a day off from working hard. His work ethic is one thing that is never questioned by his teammates.

“Klysh has been a great leader to our team by showing us that any underclassman can work hard and make their way to the top,” said sophomore Jensen Redick. “He is always seen competing with the best during our practices and never takes days off. He is always there to congratulate other teammates, no matter what level they compete at or how close he is to them.”

With being a very talented and respected athlete of any sport, comes high expectation. For Klysh that means pushing himself extra hard to try and impress his coaches, family and his competition. When it comes to individual goals, Klysh has set some for himself this year.

“I want to break 15 minutes [for 3 miles],” said Klysh. “I know it’s a long shot but if I am able to do that, I think it gives us a good chance of doing really well at state this year. The faster I run, the faster everyone runs. We just keep pushing each other to do better.”