There’s a bond forming in Tahlequah’s cross-country program, and junior runner Kaden Turner believes it’s the key to their growth. “Our team’s biggest strength is we all get along with each other really well,” Turner said. “It makes everything better.”

Turner has embraced his position as a voice on the team. “My role for the team is I’m a leader,” he said. “I want to set the example.”

That leadership is built on the hard work he’s put in since the offseason. “My personal goal this year is to achieve all state since I’ve trained every day during the summer,” Turner said. “That’s been my motivation.”

He’s seen that dedication reflected in his teammates too. “The team’s morale has been pretty energetic,” Turner said. “We’re feeding off each other’s energy.”

That energy has led to real progress. “The biggest improvement I’ve seen is I saw my teammate Eli, PR by over a minute in his 5K from his first race to his next,” he said. “That’s how you know we’re getting better.”

For Turner, the long-term vision is bigger than individual races. “My main goal for this team is for us to make it to state since we’re a pretty young and developing team this year,” he said.

When he scouts a course, he keeps it simple. “What I look for in a course is if it is flat and has good competition,” Turner said.

Music helps him get in the right mindset. “I prepare myself by listening to songs I like,” he said. “My go-to hype song I listen to is ‘Heartbeat.’”

When the race begins, it’s all mental. “I can PR if I push myself to my limits,” Turner said. “That’s the mindset I bring.”

His legacy, he hopes, will stretch beyond just times. “I want my legacy to be known for being a good leader and for all stating at least one of my years,” Turner said.

Turner runs both cross country and track. After high school, he plans to compete at UCA in Arkansas while pursuing dentistry like his mother.