On November 9th, 2024, Benet Academy senior and seasoned Cross Country and Track runner Finn Richards fulfilled even his wildest dreams. Earlier in the season, Finn Richards broke the Benet Academy school record, which had stood for over a half-century, by 19 seconds. A time of this speed is considered among the upper echelon of college cross-country runners; Thus, an accomplishment of this scale at the high school level is practically unheard of.  

But when it mattered most, at the Illinois High School Association’s 2A State Cross Country Championships, he ran the three-mile course of Detweiller Park in Peoria in a jarringly quick fourteen minutes and twenty-one seconds. At state, Finn beat his personal best and school record by a second and won the 2024 IHSA Cross Country race in the 2A Class. Richards stunningly did this, with second place not crossing the finish line for nearly eleven seconds. With his time, Finn became the fourth-fastest runner of all time in the IHSA 2A class.

After his historic race, Editor-In-Chief and Writer for the Benet Herald, John Augustyn ‘25, was able to sit down with Finn to discuss training for this spectacular outcome:

How did you dedicate yourself to this goal?

I’ve wanted to win for two years now, and I knew I could after finishing at state last year. Through the help of my family and friends, both in Heaven and on Earth, nothing could stop me from accomplishing this feat.

What does this accomplishment mean to you, and how did you feel after winning?

I felt amazing, and it means a lot to get the recognition for myself, for Benet, and for the Cross Country Team. All of these years of hard work that me and my teammates have endured paid off in an incredible way.

What role did your teammates and Coach Renicker have in guiding you on your path to extreme success?

Over the years, I have had a lot of teammates who would consistently push me in my workouts. A lot of them have graduated, but many are still here. They remind me that I’m not in this fight alone. My coaches not only pushed me but also told me what I needed to hear before each race.

What do you think your running career has in store for you in the long term?

After track, I plan on running at the Division 1 Collegiate level. From there, anything could happen!

The Benet Herald wishes Finn the greatest success in his future running career.