With a time of 15:49.81, Governor Mifflin High School graduate Cara Guth took 10th place at the St. John’s-Hofstra Fall Festival on Sept. 7, to help lead the DeSales University women’s cross country team to a third place finish.
A week earlier Guth began her season by finishing third among NCAA Division III runners at the Lehigh University CC Invitational.
They were both good starts for the senior who is coming off a season in which she placed sixth overall at the MAC Cross Country Championships which earned her a spot on the All-MAC First Team.
‘I was very excited to finish sixth overall at the MAC CC Championships last year,’ said Guth. ‘Since my freshman year it had been my goal to achieve First Team All-MAC, and it felt great to finally break that barrier.
‘The race was tough, but I mostly remember being extremely happy going up with my teammates to receive awards and knowing we had all left everything we had out on the course that day.’
After a season like that, Cara just wants to get better this year, ‘I would love to leave this season with some personal bests, and go out knowing I have done my part in contributing to the success of the team,’ she said.
Guth was a part of three Berks League championship teams at Governor Mifflin and one District 3 championship team. What does she remember most about being a part of those teams?
‘I remember most the friendships I developed on the team, the tough practices we all went through together, and the victories during the season that made those practices so worth it,’ said Guth.
The next step was college cross country, which involved longer distances which was adjustment for her. It wasn’t an easy adjustment for her, but she was able to make it.
As a freshman, her top time of 24.01.45 came at the MAC Championships where she took a 13th place finish and earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.
In fact, she was a member of the 4 x 800 meter team that placed fifth, and the distance medley relay team that placed third at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. It was a heck of a way to introduce herself to college athletics. But Cara would be the first to say it wasn’t as easy as it might look.
‘It took a little time to get used to the increased mileage and longer races,’ said Guth. ‘I had also been extremely close with my high school team, and it was hard to fathom leaving my second family behind and starting anew. Pretty quickly, though, my body began to adjust, and I found I had yet another family and a great group of friends in the girls who I am blessed to call my teammates.’
As a sophomore, she finished 15th at the MAC Championships and made the All-MAC Second Team once again. Maybe just at significant, she was named to the Fall Academic Honor Roll. In fact, as a member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, she was named to the winter and spring academic honor rolls as well.
She made all three academic honor rolls again during her very successful junior season, and you can expect her to repeat the accomplishment again this year. She’s hoping this final season to cap off a very good four year career with a great senior season.
‘Overall, I feel my cross country career at DeSales has been a great success,’ said Guth. ‘Despite the obstacles and injuries along the way, I’ve grown as a runner and as a person each year. It’s really rewarding to be able to look back and know I have accomplished so many things I did not think I was capable of doing. ‘
Guth is a physician assistant major at DeSales and hope to work as a P.A. in the field of orthopedics or sports medicine. She also plans to continue her running career and will train to compete in her first marathon.
