LUCAS, Texas — Led by the team dedication and outstanding coaching philosophy of Coach Carly Littlefield, Lovejoy High School’s girls cross country team won the 5A State Championship on Nov. 12. The boys team placed third overall as well. This was the first time since 2010 that Lucas Lovejoy’s girls and boys cross country teams were on the state podium in the same year.

Coach Littlefield, who grew up in Northeast Oklahoma and earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University, is the head girls cross country and track and field coach at Lovejoy High School in Lucas. This year, Littlefield led the Lovejoy girls cross country team to the state championship and has her team currently ranked No. 22 in the nation in cross country. Littlefield has also led her team to the nationals this year where Lovejoy High School will compete against other teams for the national championship in cross country.

According to Littlefield, her team’s phenomenal success this year is predicated upon teamwork and an aggressive running strategy.

“This season has been all about training tougher and racing more aggressively,” Littlefield said. “We have been working very hard on pushing our limits and learning to overcome mental obstacles. Great racing comes from great training, but controlling your mind is a big part of it as well, especially when you get to big races such as the state championship.”

Littlefield also said that her team success is also based on their intense training and dedication.

“These girls have been dedicated in every way possible. They eat right, they get championship sleep to allow their bodies to recover from the intense training they do, they never miss a day of training, regardless how they feel. They put in the miles I ask them to, and they never complain about the workouts I throw at them—no matter how difficult they are,” Littlefield said. “We got better this year because we implemented more strength and speed, and above all, we learned the importance of competing hard and having confidence in their training when the race gets tough.”

Coach Littlefield also said that the “winning mindset” is also a key to why Lucas Lovejoy High School won the girls state championship in cross country this year.

“The mindset of these seven girls is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Littlefield said. “They are 100% committed in every way. They avoid situations that may jeopardize their success. They are true champions in every facet of their lives, and this year they were able to bring home the state title to prove that! I am proud of who they are as athletes, but even more so as people. We have a team of 60 girls, and I can say that they all make me proud to be their coach in their work ethic and actions.”

Coach Littlefield also said that her runners usually run between 30 to 40 miles a week and that a key to the success of her girls’ team this year is the long-time commitment that each runner has had with the other runners on the team.

“Our girls have run together since they were in the sixth and seventh grade and they have set aside their egos and train together for the good of the team,” Littlefield said.

Lastly, Littlefield said that a fundamentally important reality about her team is that her team, “does not run and compete against each other but against the competition of other schools.”

Coach Carly Littlefield’s stellar coaching philosophy paid off in a big way this season as her girls cross country team just won the state championship and is now ranked No. 22 in the country.

Lovejoy Girls’ Results

Amy Morefield – 5th – 17:50
Kailey Littlefield – 7th – 18:07
Sarah Morefield – 12th – 18:30
Peyton Benson – 13th – 18:36
Katie Armstrong – 57th – 19:28
Kate Carlson – 66th – 19:38
Haiely Malik – 94th – 19:52

Earning CCCAT All-State honors were the following runners:

Amy Morefield
Kailey Littlefield
Sarah Morefield
Peyton Benson

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