By Ken Hansard
Running has been a way of life for Fort Scott cross-country runner Jocelyn Fess since she was six years old. It has also been a way to help her make even deeper connections with family, “My love of sports definitely stemmed from having older brothers that were always competing in something. I started running cross country at six because I wanted to be with my older brothers when they went to practice, so my parents let me join their traveling club team. I knew that it was something I wanted to continue when I qualified for my first national championship at seven years old. I placed ninth in my first competitive season.”
Fast forward to the present. Jocelyn is now a senior member for the Tigers, and now she is the one looking to influence others with her love of sport, “I am looking forward to stepping into a leadership role this season. I will be the only senior girl on the team, and I am looking forward to leading the younger girls. I am also looking forward to running with my younger brother, who will be a freshman.”
As for personal goals for her final year of high school, Fess says, “I am definitely focused on making it to the State Championship this year. After qualifying my sophomore season, I missed qualification by just two spots my junior season, and I am ready to go back.” To do that, Fess has worked hard in the off-season, not only on the physical aspects of the sport, but also on the mental game, “Sometimes I struggle with comparing myself to others, but when I really focus on myself and the task at hand, I can overcome and perform better.”
Fess competes in powerlifting in the winter and track in the spring. She is also a cheerleader for the Tigers. She has competed at the state level nine times in her various athletic pursuits, six of those on the track. She has been awarded All-SEK first team six times between track and cross-country and has once medaled at state. In club Cross-Country she has medal three times at the national level.
After high school, Jocelyn would like to continue to run or cheer at the collegiate level. Her plan of study is still undecided.
