Cortes leads his runners influenced by previous role models
Seven Bearcats dressed in crimson uniforms, anxious to take off, stand awaiting the pop of the gun. With a “go” the runners start the race and amidst the pack is the PRHS cross country team. Amongst these runners is Pablo Cortes, the driven runner according to coach Ivan Huff.
Huff passionately speaks of driven athletes:
“Driven athletes are the ones who make their sport a lifestyle. It is not just about the two to three hours of practice each day during the season. You plan your day and weeks around practice and competition so you are prepared to perform at your best day in and day out. The majority of our boys varsity team are driven athletes.”
Cortes, a junior, exemplifies all of these qualities. He dedicates two hours everyday of the week and some Sundays to running try and give week total, around 14-18. He is greatly inspired by the previous runners, Trad Berti and Luis Armendariz.
“The seniors that have been here before me [motivate me]. Just seeing how they have been able to lead our team really well in the past years . It’s really inspiring,” Cortes said.
He has been running for four years concluding his third year running varsity. He started running because a friend asked him to run alongside him. He instantly fell in love.
“I got really into it. I am able to express everything I have,” said Cortes with a grin.
To better himself, he compares his times with Berti’s records as a junior. Cortes hopes to go to a division one college and run. Helping his team to have a great season is one of Cortes’ main goals.
“We try to encourage our runners to not be conservative about their running; not just to stick to a certain time. They need to push. [I] just hope that we can really make a good year this year for our first year of being division two.”
Luis Cortes, Cortes’s dad inspires him most. He pushes him harder everyday to always perform his best. It is the fire within Cortes that makes his run his best. He is drives himself by wanting to succeed.
“[I am] just trying to be better at what I can do. I’m able to express everything I’ve got into it. I’m pretty passionate about [running],” Cortes said.
