Although it can take many people time to flesh out their talents, Drew Malan hit the ground running with his. On Nov. 2, 2024, junior Drew Malan placed 12th at the UIL state cross country meet with a time of 16:00.4. The meet, held in Austin, Texas, had over 150 runners in the 5A division from 51 different schools, and Malan had the highest place in the state meet in school history.
However, as one might expect, this accomplishment spans much farther than his junior year. Malan recalls when he first realized he was good at running.
“In 6th grade, we would run a mile every Monday in PE, and I quickly realized that I was pretty good at running,” Malan said. “That year, I ran a 6:12 mile and the coaches recommended I do cross country the following year.”
It was on the middle school team that Malan met Lebanon Trail cross-country coach Cordaro Johnson. Johnson shares his first impressions of Malan.
“My first impression of him was, ‘Man, that little guy is really respectful,’” Johnson said. “After seeing him run, it was, ‘Wow, that kid has a lot of potential.’”
Johnson was right about his potential as Malan would go on to join the Lebanon Trail cross-country team. Johnson shares the reasons that he believes led Malan to his success.
“‘Success favors the prepared.’ I believe that Drew has consistently trained and prepared to be successful,” Johnson said. “He has a champion mentality. He wants to be the best, so he pushes himself to be better every day.”
Speaking of training, Malan shares how he prepares for each race.
“To prepare for each race I drink a ton of water two days prior and I eat a lot of carbs to build disposable energy,” Malan said. “Right before the race I do my routine of a two-mile warmup and a variety of stretches. I also have to mentally adjust to cancel out any feelings of discomfort or doubt.”
The preparation has certainly paid off, as beyond the state meet, Malan has become the captain of the team at Lebanon Trail. Malan also placed 2nd at the district meet by less than a second and currently has the second fastest 5K time in school history of 15:43.
However, for Malan, competition isn’t the only fruit of the sport.
“I think the best part of cross country is the team bonding that is built within the sport,” Malan said. “Cross country is an incredibly difficult sport physically and mentally, and everyone on the team can attest to that, so we all have a common respect for each other. We also have a lot of fun.”
Team-building doesn’t just come naturally, however, and Cordaro Johnson believes that Malan has been a big part of the recent growth of the team.
“Drew has had a major impact on the rest of our student-athletes,” Johnson said. “He pushes those around him to be better. He brings energy and effort daily. He’s connecting with the athletes and making strong bonds. I feel as he’s helped continue the legacy of family within our program, and has helped to ensure we have a running culture here at LT.”
Because of this, Malan believes that there are many reasons for students to join cross country.
“People should join cross country because it builds a lot of self-discipline and mental toughness,” Malan said. “Also, you make a ton of friends very quickly and the meets are always extremely enjoyable.”
Malan still has another year of high school and many goals for the remainder of his time on the Lebanon Trail cross-country team.
“In terms of running, my goals are pretty simple,” Malan said. “I want to podium at the state and run a 15:10 5K or below. I also want to get a 9:35 2-mile in track, a 4:20 mile in track to take the school record, and a 1:55 800m for the record.”
Johnson also has goals for Malan.
“My goals are simple, I’d like for him to continue to develop as an exceptional human being. I’m convinced through his hard work and dedication he’ll continue to have success on the course throughout his high school career,” Johnson said. “I value the life lessons sports can teach our young athletes over the accolades. Drew is an exceptional individual and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to coach him at this level.”
