Westmoore High School junior Grady Carson continues to make strides as a dedicated member of the varsity cross country team, combining athletic discipline with a strong sense of community and purpose.

Carson, who will enter his junior year this fall, has steadily developed into a reliable runner for Westmoore, highlighted by a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 19 seconds in the 5K at the Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas last season. He also posted times of 5:03 in the mile and 10:54 in the two-mile during a time trial.

While his performances stand out, Carson points to the people around him as his primary motivation.

“My teammates and coach Charlie Reichert are a huge inspiration for me,” Carson said. “We have always been a group that stays strong as a pack and pushes each through whatever we go through together.”

That sense of unity defines Carson’s experience in cross country. He describes the team as more than a group of athletes, emphasizing the relationships built through shared challenges.

“The thing I enjoy most about being a member of the team is having a community of brothers that I spend most of my time with and build real relationships with,” he said. “When we go through something, we go through it together.”

Carson’s mental approach to racing has also been key to his growth. During competitions, he focuses on maintaining effort and controlling his thoughts.

“I focus on the person’s back in front of me and make sure to keep any thoughts about stopping or slowing down out of my mind,” he said. “The greatest competition isn’t the other runners, it is your mind.”

Outside of competition, Carson often trains at local spots such as Merrel Medley Park, as well as Westmoore and Earlywine, taking advantage of convenient locations to stay consistent.

Beyond athletics, Carson has developed interests that reflect both discipline and creativity. 

He enjoys engineering classes at school, reading his Bible, spending time with friends and even spray-painting curbs as a way to earn money.

He credits cross country with teaching him lessons that extend far beyond the course, particularly the value of discipline.

“Discipline can be used in any aspect of life,” Carson said. “It is the ability to do something when you don’t feel like it.”

Looking ahead, Carson remains open-minded about his future, trusting that his path will become clear over time.

“Regardless of what my future holds, I am just going to trust God’s plan over mine,” he said.