Senior team captain Aidan Bowers has found a new meaning to cross country as he looks forward to his final year of high school. Yet, the revelation did not come without sacrifice. 

As a junior, Bowers was determined to achieve glory, and trained intensely throughout the year to achieve it. However, after a disappointing finish at the Varsity Championships race at Kamehameha Schools, Bowers, unable to conceal his frustration with himself, let out a single word he would come to regret. 

About 5 days prior to the meet at Kamehameha, Aidan was running through the Manoa neighborhood with a few of his teammates. As he was crossing the road, an awkward step caused him to severely twist his ankle. Thus, in the days leading up to the meet, Aidan underwent intense rehab hoping to still be able to run in the massive race. However, when Saturday came around, Aidan was far from a hundred percent. Even so, he remained steadfast in his goal to win. 

As the gun was fired, Aidan got out to his normal start, staying with the lead group for the first few miles. However, as the end drew near, fatigue began to set in for the runner, and six other runners had passed him up by the time he reached the finish line.

When asked about what happened next, Bowers said, “This was a huge race for us as it determined how many of our runners could eventually participate in States (State Championship). So, I felt the pressure to perform for the team as well as the pressure I placed on myself throughout the year. I built this race up so much in my head, and I kept telling myself I’d finish top five. So when I started falling back, I struggled to even fathom the reality that I hadn’t lived up to my own goals.” 

As he crossed the finish line, he tripped and fell to the floor. Unable to contain his dissatisfaction with himself, he slammed the ground and yelled the “F” word. 

Just a few moments later, Aidan received word from his coaches that the curse may result in his disqualification from the race. Later that week, he was told that not only had he been disqualified from Varsity Championships, but from States as well. Frustrated, Aidan couldn’t believe that all the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice he put into this sport had gone to waste. 

“The news… It destroyed me. Like, my heart just sank… One momentary lapse in judgment led to my whole season coming down to an end all at once.” 

Somehow, the bad news didn’t end there. Aidan later found out that not only would he not be participating in States, but his mistake meant one of his teammates wouldn’t be able to run either. While the team was initially granted 7 entries into the State Championship, only 6 would be allowed to run following his disqualification.

Bowers was decimated. Initially, he planned to not run in the upcoming track season, something that he had done every year of high school. However, it only took a few light jogs around his neighborhood to realize what he had been missing all along.

“I had placed so much pressure on myself to succeed and be the best, I had lost my love for running. It took me actually running around my neighborhood to help me rediscover that… I also knew that I could never shake the guilt of letting my teammates down if I just quit on them. [The experience] didn’t motivate me to be a better runner. However, it motivated me to be a smarter, and more selfless runner… I realized that it’s a team sport, and that I need to be there for my guys and have their backs while trusting that they’ll have mine.” 

This year, Aidan is ready to get back on the move, with his team alongside him. Now team captain in his final year of high school, Bowers looks to not just pick up where he left off, but push others to follow in his footsteps as well.

The standards have been set. Bowers placed first in the season opener at Bellows, and looks forward to carrying that momentum with him to champs and beyond.