By Matt Browning

Elyse Boden from Goessel was selected as the Fleet Feet Athlete of the Month for February.

Boden finished ninth place at the Class 1A Cross Country meet this year, which was her first time medaling at the state. Her time of 21:25 was a school record at the state meet.

“Being chosen for this award means a lot to me since I am a runner,” Boden said. “

As a freshman, Boden’s best time was 23:51, but she was unable to improve that time as a sophomore and junior due to multiple injuries.

But she committed herself more than she ever had this past summer in order to get back to where she was as a freshman. She said her determination was the biggest difference from her previous offseason.

“I went for runs every day and I ran about 200 miles last summer,” Boden said. “My coach would give us a theme to live by and words of advice. That was very helpful.”

Boden is undecided on where she wants to go to college next year, but she definitely knows she wants to run wherever she goes. “I am either going to Hesston College or Bethany,” Boden said.

“I am hoping to make a decision in either February or March.”