For Anadarko High School freshman Kambren Moser, cross country is about more than just running — it’s about pushing past limits and doing it alongside people she cares about.

Moser, a first-year member of the team, said the best part of the sport is the camaraderie. “Being with my friends,” she said when asked what she enjoys most about being a team member.

That mindset carries her through the toughest stretches of a race, too. When long runs get difficult, she keeps her focus simple. “Getting done as fast as I can,” Moser said of what goes through her mind during competition.

One piece of advice has stuck with her more than any other. “The faster you run the faster you will be done,” Moser said, describing the best guidance she’s received as a cross country athlete.

That advice has paid off. Moser pointed to one race in particular as a highlight of her young career so far. “One of my best races was at Riverside cross country course,” she said.

Off the course, Moser credits her mother as her biggest inspiration. “My mom because she gives me good advice,” she said.

In the classroom, Moser gravitates toward numbers. Her favorite subject is math, and she named Katie Cantrell as her favorite teacher. Outside of school and athletics, she has spent the past three years involved in art on campus, and she likes to unwind by watching TV and drawing in her free time. When she’s not competing, she still finds time to run for fun — often heading to the park to do it.

Moser said the sport has already taught her lessons she expects to carry well beyond high school. “To push myself and work hard,” she said, describing what athletics has instilled in her.

Looking ahead, Moser’s goals extend past graduation and into a specific career path. She said she plans to become an eyebrow and eyelash technician after finishing school.

As Moser continues her freshman season, the lessons she’s learning on the course — patience, effort and pushing through discomfort — appear to be shaping more than just her running times.