Billy Stavropoulos ’20: The success of the Boy’s Varsity cross country team in recent years has been a team effort, and standout runner Elias Lindgren ’18 has helped lead the way.
This year in particular, Lindgren has had to elevate his role substantially because of a team member’s injury. “Elias has really had to step up this season due to the recent injury of Jake Jorgensen who has been our number one runner,” explained head coach of the Boys’ Varsity cross country team Jim Farrell. “It is a hard spot to fill but he has done it well,” Farrell continued. Teammates agree that Lindgren provides leadership on the team, and that he has hit his stride despite the circumstances. “Elias always gives us an example of how hard we should be working,” said captain Phillip Tobar ‘17. “He is a motivated leader who gives his best effort even if he is under the weather or sore.”
As a junior, Elias has already received his fair share of accolades. Lindgren was First Team All League last year. Tobar emphasized Lindgren’s consistency in races, saying, “he has been the number one or two runner for every race, and gives it his best effort while motivating his teammates to run better.”
“I am most proud of my 4:34 mile that I ran in the John Hay Memorial meet last spring,” said Lindgren. His efforts have also helped lead the team to success, including both an Inter-Ac Championships title and third place in the PAISAA Championships last season.
However, Lindgren’s many successes have not come overnight. “He has worked very hard on drills, becoming more efficient with his form. He has also done a lot of work in the weight room, working on areas like his core. His hard work has enabled his times to come down because he is more efficient and stronger,” said Farrell. Beyond the physical aspects of Lindgren’s preparation, Farrell also noted that, “his curiosity has helped him become a better runner. He views running as another aspect of life he would like to explore.” As a result of Lindgren’s physical and mental preparation, Farrell has high hopes for Lindgren for this season., “Elias can break seventeen minutes at Belmonts this year, which would be huge as a junior,” he said.
In the upcoming season, Lindgren is most looking forward to EA/Haverford Day weekend. “When I was an eighth grader, we had had a twelve year winning streak against Haverford but we have lost the last two years; last year only losing by one point,” he said. Lindgren and the team are looking to beat Haverford and reclaim the EA/Haverford Day sweater, after losing the for the past two years, both times by only a few points.
Lindgren looks beyond the his own successes toward team goals for the future. “We will be looking to win the Inter-ac title again and even go for the PAISAA championship where we will have to beat the Germantown Friends School, who were the previous champions. They will definitely be tough to beat,” he said. Still, Lindgren is positive about the team’s future. “We definitely are gonna have another great season.”