Seku Sanders has high hopes for this cross country season

Seku Sanders has not run cross country his whole life but you might think so when you see him run.

He is going into his 3rd year in the sport, having started only his freshmen year.

Sanders looks to improve on an impressive sophomore season last year as he sets goals for himself to achieve.

Some of those goals are very specific, including a time he would like to break.

“I would like to go under 16:45.’’

While cross country is more individual than some other sports, he also knows he is part of a team, so he sets goals for his squad as a whole because he knows it wouldn’t be a good season if only he succeeded. He would like for his team to taste success, as well.

"I want varsity to go to districts."

Since the top 8 teams in Metro will qualify, he knows each meet is important.

Sanders has a great runners around him with supportive teammates and coaches.

“Yeah, I look up to my 2 coaches. Coach Bazzi who graduated 96' and Coach Mohn who graduated 18. They were both accomplished runners that came through O'Dea and my goal at the end of high school is to be at their level.”

Sanders isn’t the only one of his family that runs cross country. He and his sophomore brother, Cassius, run on the team together. Having family already on the team makes it feel more comfortable.

“It is nice. It is like having a running partner at home outside of practice."

While the two brothers are different, they share a love of running in common.

“We kind of do our own thing since we are at a different caliber of running right now, and the people we hang out with and talk to are different. But it is nice having a brother on a team.”

This year, look for both Sanders' brothers to help the Irish Cross Country reach their goals and make a mark in the Metro League and beyond.