Senior Carly Pederson made NCHS history on November 3^rd by breaking the school record for fastest cross-country time.  Pederson ran a time of 17:14.6 at the 3-mile IHSA state cross-country race and placed 28^th. She also broke her personal best time; which before November 3^rd, was 17:36.  Pederson says that breaking the school record, as well as her previous personal best, was the single best moment of her cross-country career thus far.  “Seeing my teammates at the end and having my best friends and my teammates at the finish line was the best way to end the season.”  She had not broken her personal best since she first set it as a freshman.

She also made history in 2006 by becoming the first 6^th grader to win the junior high IHSA State cross-country race.  Pederson also won State as a 7^th grader.

Although never winning State in high school, Pederson has raced at State all 4 years.  Even by running her fastest time as a senior, she placed higher at the IHSA State race as a freshman by getting 24^th.

She prepared for this season by running 50 miles a week over summer break (just over 7 miles a day).  Pederson also changed her mental attitude towards running.  “I changed my attitude about my running and found the fun in it.  I balanced fun and work.”  All of these adjustments appeared to drastically improve her performance.

The race at which she broke the school record was the last of her high school career.  However, she will be running for Northern Illinois University next year.