Bixby High School junior Caleb Pratt is a member of the varsity cross country team and the Bixby Band. For Pratt, competing in cross country and being around his teammates has been an enjoyable experience.
“I love how tight-knit and competitive the team is. It feels like I have a personal connection with every guy on the team and that makes going to practice the best part of my day. We motivate each other to push through hard workouts and set new personal bests at every race we go to,” Pratt said. “On this team, it really doesn’t matter if you run 25 minutes in the 5K or 15, your teammates care about you and are going to encourage you no matter what.”
This season has had its challenges, but Pratt and his teammates have pushed through the adversity.
“This season has been great but has brought some challenges, too. The highlight of my season was competing against my teammates at the Bixby Red vs. Blue meet in August, where I set a new 3K PR of 9:36 (unofficially). The atmosphere surrounding the race was electric and I felt a shift in the team’s energy coming off such a fast race for us,” Pratt said. “The rest of the season has been a bit tough for me because I’ve been trying to recover from a sickness and most likely will not race any more as a result. Still, I’m excited to support the team as championship season rolls around and will be back racing by indoor track season.”
Pratt said he draws inspiration from another runner who competes in the professional ranks.
“Yaseen Abdalla is a professional marathoner who ran at Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas before this year, and he is definitely an inspiration for me. Yaseen started XC/Track in 10th grade just like me and ran 24:42 in the 5K,” Pratt said. “By his senior year he ran a 15:08 5K and was a division I recruit, going on to place 4th overall at the NCAA XC championships in 2024. Seeing his progress has been uplifting for me because it shows that commitment and hard work can change your life.”
In the classroom, Pratt said English is his favorite subject and Mrs. Schofield from 10th grade is my favorite teacher. As a member of the band, Pratt is part of the Bixby Wind Ensemble.
As for his teammates, Pratt said they all bring their own personalities to the team.
“I’d have to say that Owen Smith is the most vocal. He shares his opinions on running frequently and he’s an essential member of this team. On the other hand, Brody McGuire keeps us laughing. He’s always pulling some type of prank or doing some goofy stunt to grab everyone’s attention in the locker room,” said Pratt.
After high school, Pratt hopes to attend school and possibly compete as a runner.
“I’d like to go into medical school. I would be interested in running track and cross country in college as well if the opportunity is available,” said Pratt.
