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12/19/2018 11:00 PMNate Carlson has risen up the ranks as a member of the Haddam-Killingworth boys’ cross country team throughout the past few seasons. Nate capped off his run with the Cougars by having the best year of his career this fall.
Nate started running in middle school and then joined H-K as a freshman. Nate trimmed some minutes off his pace as a sophomore, after which he cemented himself as a cornerstone for the JV squad in his junior year.
This fall, Nate became a top varsity runner for the Cougars and also led the team as a senior tri-captain. Nate’s journey culminated with him earning All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, while helping H-K claim its fifth straight conference title.
“For me, it was important to get in the work during the offseason and summer,” says Nate. “We do a lot of runs as a team in the summer. I saw a growth in my endurance through those, and then I was able to go faster in races. Mentally, I’ve learned how to push myself.”
Nate contributed to a pair of dominating performances for the Cougars’ JV team at the Shoreline Conference Championship during his sophomore and junior seasons. It meant a lot to Nate that he helped H-K make history at the meet.
“In my sophomore year, we swept the top seven spots at Shorelines for JV and then, the next year, we swept the top 16,” Nate says. “That was incredible to be a part of those packs, and that was something that had never been done in the history of the conference.”
Nate made sure that he never got lost in the pack at the starting line. Nate liked to feel out the vibe of the race and then take things to another level when he approached the final leg.
“I’ve developed a feel over time. One of my biggest things is to not get trapped behind guys at the start of a race. You can’t maneuver through dense packs,” says Nate. “I run most of a race based on how I feel and the people around me. In the last 800 or 1,000 meters, I like to go to a kick I have early.”
As a captain, Nate led a senior class that had to replace six varsity runners from last season. Nate felt honored to be named a captain and was eager to take on the responsibility.
“It was very interesting being in a position where people look up to you. It was new for me,” Nate says. “We had good leaders the year before, so I had to help fill the void, but it was a good experience.”
Head Coach Matt Diglio says that Nate has improved as much as any athlete he’s ever coached. Diglio is proud of Nate for sticking with the sport and progressing into a solid runner at the varsity level.
“When Nate joined the team as a freshman, he would finish towards the back of every single race. Nate did not get discouraged and...worked extremely hard and, as a sophomore, had cut several minutes off his time,” says Diglio. “As a senior, Nate continued his amazing development and improvement as a runner and was the No. 2 [or] 3 man for many of our races. Nate is a unique young man with a fantastic personality and sense of humor and who is extremely talented in so many areas.”
Nate gained confidence while learning about teamwork and camaraderie as a result of competing for the Cougars. Nate says he will always feel grateful that he found a home with H-K cross country.
“Cross country gave me something I feel I’m good at,” Nate says. “At first, I felt I was physically weak, but cross country made me realize that I’m not, which has been nice. Being on this team was a great experience. I learned a lot about being on a team.”