Fifty meters. Forty meters, thirty, twenty. The sound of battering footsteps catching up brings on a moment of realization. The goal was no longer getting to the handoff zone first, but rather giving the next runner just enough of an edge to win. Such was the case for WCHS senior Santiago Gutierrez, passing on the baton to his teammate, freshman Patricio Pardo, during the 2025 cross-country Woodward Relays at Georgetown Prep.
Gutierrez, a decorated cross-country runner, carries on a proud legacy of WCHS cross-country captains — the most talented runners, leaders and mentors. His last year on the team marks a turning point, as he prepares to hand leadership to the next generation of Bulldog runners.
“Being a captain isn’t just about running fast — it’s about setting an example, showing up every day, and helping the younger guys understand what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.” Gutierrez said.
Many times, what defines these athletes is misinterpreted as simply natural talent or an obsession to become the best. While these assumptions are sometimes not far from the truth, what truly defines a spectacular runner is the fundamental elements that make up a strong mindset. Examples of these mindset-building blocks in the sport of cross-country include passion, commitment and the willingness to learn, which cannot be acquired on their own but are passed down from one generation of runners to the next.
“The older runners teach the new ones about what it means to be a distance runner and how to train to become a better runner,” WCHS cross-country coach Paul Jacobson said. “It’s more rewarding to be with a group that is successful; you share the success.”
Pardo is no stranger to this dynamic. Over the last few months, he has built strong relationships with his teammates, learning from older runners while contributing his own energy and success to the group. Running for Seven Locks Running Club, a local youth running club, and now WCHS, Pardo is a testament to this exact dynamic, showing the guidance of teammates and upperclassmen.
“As a young kid, I was always running and training with older athletes,” Pardo said. “I have many role models at both WCHS and Seven Locks who’ve shown me how to be better and handle adversity and obstacles.”
Although Gutierrez is now a coach, a mentor and a teammate, he did not learn these skills on his own, for he had once been a mentee too, running under WCHS seniors who gave him the knowledge he now shares with younger runners. As a freshman, Gutierrez had little understanding of what cross country demanded until the upperclassmen pushed him beyond his limits. To this day, Gutierrez credits the mentorship of his upperclassmen to his success as a runner and now he carries that same responsibility, guiding WCHS’s younger runners through the same challenges he faced.
“When I came in as a freshman, I didn’t really know much about running — I thought it was just about running in a circle,” Gutierrez said. “But the seniors took me under their wing and showed me what it really meant to push yourself and be part of a team.”
Looking back on his four years running for WCHS, Gutierrez reflects that his growth as a runner came not from winning races but from realizing that leadership means caring for others’ success as much as your own. Now coming full circle, Gutierrez has become the mentor he once looked up to as a freshman.
“[As captains] I think we push the team to do better by setting an example,” Gutierrez said. “When teammates see us running hard every day, it motivates them to push themselves too.”
The WCHS cross country team culture is a perfect example of what makes an outstanding runner outstanding are not just the merits of their accomplishments, but the impact they leave on the next generation of runners. The passing of the torch is not just a symbol for the transition of runners on a team, but a symbol of lighting the torch with spirit and passion and pouring out one’s soul so that the next generation may receive it and flourish. In this way, Gutierrez’s final season becomes more than just his own legacy; it becomes the spark that lights the path for those who follow.
“It’s amazing to see runners of all ages come to inspire each other, passing down inspiration and advice to the next generation of runners,” Seven Locks Running Club coach Lucas Nielson said. “I think that’s what makes the WCHS Cross Country team so resilient.”
