When Orange Lutheran senior Lindsay Guthrie began high school, she figured her path as a student athlete would likely be in soccer, the sport she had been playing since the age of four. But the arrival of Covid-19 her freshman year brought a change to that plan, and Guthrie discovered cross country, a sport where she was not only challenged but surrounded by kind and supportive teammates. It was in running that Guthrie found “her people.” “It's definitely the most supportive group of people I think you'll find in any sport,” says Guthrie. “What you put in every day at practice, you're going to get out. If you show up, work hard and take care of yourself, you're going to get results. And I like that part of it.” As a senior transfer to OLu, Guthrie was nervous about such a big change. But the Lancer family has welcomed her with open arms, and she already feels like an integral part of the program. “It sounds so cliche, but I couldn't have asked for a better team to go to,” says Guthrie. “Everyone has just been so welcoming, and I feel like it’s a family on the team. It's been as smooth of a transition as it could be.” Coming off of some health complications last fall, Guthrie is eyeing her senior season with some big goals, including running sub-18 minutes in the 3-mile race. Of all the courses the Lancers will compete on this season, her favorite is Mt. SAC, the site of one of the largest cross country invitationals in the nation, as well as the CIF-SS championship meet. The four-year varsity runner knows that pure grit is needed to conquer the course’s challenging hills, and she loves the strategy behind running that kind of race. Guthrie also feels she and her teammates have all the pieces necessary for success this season. “When you have a group of teammates who you care about so much and look forward to seeing every day, it makes putting in the hard work so much easier,” says Guthrie. “Working hard for each other is the environment that has been created, and it's a really good group who all like each other.” As a senior leader, Guthrie leads by example and knows the importance of recognizing her teammates when they put in the hard work. “Lindsay’s passion for running and improving is truly an inspiration to her teammates and our coaching staff,” says OLu cross country head coach Kristen Goossens. “She is constantly striving to learn more about her training and works daily to complete the little aspects that go in to separating the ‘goods’ from the ‘greats’ in our sport.” Guthrie is also a blended student at OLu and has found the OLu Online program to be a perfect fit with her training. “The flexibility has been great, and it’s helpful to be able to design my own schedule around our big practice days, while still getting to take the courses I want,” says Guthrie. When she isn’t running, you can find Guthrie hiking, biking or searching for new places to watch the sun set. The 17-year old has also been active with Assisteens since middle school and enjoys volunteering in the local community through tutoring. Guthrie has known since she was five years old that she wants to be a lawyer, and she plans to study political science while also continuing her running career at the collegiate level. Strong influences in Guthrie’s life are her running coaches, including Coach Goossens, as well as her mother, who has been a consistent model of grace and kindness. “My mom is my best friend,” says Guthrie. “She is such a giving and compassionate person, and she has a great work ethic. I try to be more like her.”