As lead boys cross country runner and recent winner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Athlete of the Week award, junior Ryan Lien has had a successful season and looks forward to the coming track and field season.

Lien was nominated for Athlete of the Week following his first race win. Lien received 1,814 votes, over 40% of all those cast.

“It was pretty awesome,” Lien said. “It was a great week, because I obviously got nominated, but it was also my first win in a race and it just felt like the hard work was really paying off.”

The award wasn’t the only win for Lien this season—he notes his progression as a runner in comparison to previous school years.

“[I was most proud of] being the number one runner, because my sophomore year I was like the tenth runner on the team,” Lien said. “I just wanted to see if I could climb that ladder.”

In order to reach his current standing on the team, Lien put forth extra effort, including a significant amount of work during the offseason.

“Most of the time [during] my freshman year I wouldn’t really run much in the winter or the summer,” Lien said. “Nowadays, I run anywhere from five to seven times a week just to keep that intensity going so I don’t fall out of the schedule that I’m on.”

Due to his increased involvement and passion for the sport, Lien has noticed a dramatic difference when comparing his freshman season to his junior season, both physically and socially. 

“When I was a freshman, my brother was on the team, so I knew the seniors, but I wasn’t really friends with them,” Lien said. “I was always a little shy and [I] just wasn’t super engaged in the team. Then the next year I had a ‘growth spurt’ running-wise and was running much better times, [which] made me want to be better and become more involved in the team and everything it stands for.”

Lien reflected on goals for the team, largely impacted by its upcoming return to Division 2, which more aptly sets up runners for success. 

“Next season, since we are going to be back [in] Division 2, we are hoping to get the state championship,” Lien said. “Our coach says it will be a little tough, but I think [with] the progression our team is seeing right now, it is definitely possible.”

In terms of personal goals, Lien also set his sights high. He hopes to build on the success of the 2024 season.

“I would love to get that state championship individually,” Lien said. “I really think that if I just put in the work, I am only a few steps behind it.”

With the cross country season over, Lien now looks forward to the coming track season. 

“I am really excited because [last season] I started in the 3200 [event], [and] it was the first time I had ever done it,” Lien said. “I was able to qualify for track state and it was just something that seemed way out in the distance. Now that I was able to do that, I am just hoping [to be in the] top five at state this year, and hopefully to win it senior year.”

As a two-sport athlete, an important aspect of Lien’s success is finding balance. He notes that he prefers cross country to track, largely due to the social dynamics of the sport.

“I love track, but it is much more individualistic,” Lien said. “With cross country, everyone is running the same race. You all line up on the start line together and everyone is right with you. I really like the unity of cross country.”