As a star athlete and leader of Diamond Bar High School’s cross-country team, Senior Captain Evelyn Kim has demonstrated dedication, perseverance, and what it takes to be an exemplary student-athlete.
Kim earned many accolades throughout her athletic career, including Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Brahma of the Year. Kim’s efforts, alongside Girls Varsity Cross-Country, during her freshman year led to their victory as Hacienda League Co-Champions.
Despite not initially starting off her athletic journey as a runner, Kim tried out for the cross-country team at South Pointe Middle School with her friends, finding a new passion that continued her cross-country career into high school.
“My experience on the cross country team during my freshman year was definitely memorable,” Kim said. “The talent back then was different, and so was the coaching. I enjoyed every second of that season and made sure not to take anything for granted.”
However, Kim’s stirring performance throughout the years was met with several challenges. During her junior season, she got posterior tibial tendonitis after coming off a strong sophomore year.
“Even though it was painful, I continued to run through it because not running didn’t feel like an option at the time,” Kim said. “That experience made it one of the toughest seasons in terms of both times and accomplishments.”
As a captain, Kim is a liaison between the team and coaches. This includes waking up for 5:30 a.m. practices four times a week and running numerous miles in pain while also participating in external school activities.
“I developed a strong bond with my coaches and felt comfortable sharing my own concerns as well as those of my teammates,” Kim said. “Having been on the team for so long, I often led stretches, drills, and cooldowns, and made decisions for the team.”
Kim reflects that she and the other captains of the cross-country team learned to adapt to the setbacks that they encountered and strived to create an inclusive environment for the betterment of the team.
During the Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational in October, the cross country team achieved the 14th fastest team time for both the girls and boys teams in DBHS history.
As the season comes to an end with league finals coming around the corner, Kim looks forward to sleeping in and spending more time on learning and making new experiences.
“I can’t wait to see what the team will accomplish next year,” Kim said. “In the meantime, I will be playing soccer and returning to the team for my final track season in the spring.”