Lexi Fluharty
Riverside
Senior
Favorite XC Course: Big Red

What do you enjoy most about cross-country?
The thing I most enjoy about cross country is it gives you what you put into it, if you’re willing to work very hard your progress will show.

What is the most challenging aspect of cross-country for you?
The most challenging aspect of cross country for me is staying mentally strong in a race when fatigue starts to set in.

Do you have a favorite cross-country memory or race?
My favorite cross-country memory is placing 8th at the state meet my junior year.

What are your goals for this cross-country season?
My goals for this cross-country season are to win WPIAL’s and place in the top three at states.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from cross-country running?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that every race isn’t going to be great, but using the bad races as motivation to train harder will really get me through to succeed at the end of the season.

How has cross-country running impacted your life outside the sport?
Cross country has impacted my life outside the sport in many ways. A few being that it has given me some great friends from all around, and it helps me to hold myself accountable even if it’s not “in-season”.

What is your favorite running quote?
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

How do you mentally stay strong during the final stretch of a race?
I just tell myself the race is almost over and that a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.

How do you handle race-day nerves and anxiety? Do you have any pre-race rituals or techniques to help you stay calm and focused?
Race Day nerves are unavoidable but not letting them affect my race is what I really focus on because nerves just show that you care about doing well. Some pre-race techniques I have is praying with my team before the start of each race.

Can you share any insights on the importance of proper footwear and gear in cross-country running? How do you choose the right shoes and accessories for different race conditions?
Proper footwear is definitely key to being successful and staying injury-free. I have spent a couple years trying to figure out the best shoes for me, but I have found out that I like Nike Pegasus for regular runs, Nike Vaporfly for workouts and tempos, and Nike Dragonfly for racing.

Lexi is off to a fast start in 2023. She won the Marty Uher Fire 5k and placed 2nd at the Red, White, & Blue Classic in back-to-back weekends. Lexi will ride this momentum into late October, establishing herself as a contender for the girls’ Single-A WPIAL championship. I believe she could run under 19 minutes this season at a major invitational. Additionally, she could earn her 3rd trip to the PIAA Cross Country Championships in Hershey, PA this November.

Donation to NixonTFXC
https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8Xxm7SiOrj