-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Liam Shannon of St. Edmond compete in 1A boys 5k run on at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge

Some kids just stumble into cross country running. Others, seem to be destined for it.

Liam Shannon has an interesting tale to tell regarding his introduction to the sport.

“When I was four years old, I lived in a town called Guttenberg in northeast Iowa,” Shannon said. “I went to a track named for my oldest brother, Corporal Stephen D. Shannon, who was killed in Iraq. My mom tells the story of me taking off my shoes and running 14 times around the new track. According to her, I would have kept going but we had to go home for supper.”

Shannon, a St. Edmond senior, has been running ever since. He recently competed in his fourth state cross country championships, placing a career-best 29th with a personal-best time of 17:04.5 while helping the Gaels to their fourth Top-10 team finish in the last four years.

As one of just a handful of seniors for head coach Mike Szalat to rely on, Shannon knew he had to put in the work during the offseason.

” I spent my summer running as much as I possibly could. I ran 326.42 miles, which is like driving to Crystal Lake, Illinois,” Shannon said. “I was beyond exhilarated to go to state for four years straight and qualify individually for my last two years. Instead of just focusing on the race, I spent my last day as a St. Edmond cross country runner talking and laughing with my team.

“It was sad knowing that I won’t be returning as a runner in 2025, so I wanted to give all I had. Going to state for four years, I can say that my feelings changed each time. I loved every race, and faced the challenges. My feelings were a mix of happiness and sadness; Happy because I had an amazing high school cross country career but sad knowing running with that group and under those coaches was over.”

While the final run at state was the exclamation point to his career, the first was one Shannon will also never forget.

“I felt like I had won the lottery,” he said. “I was convinced I had reached my full potential and had nothing to improve upon. I realized coming back to state each season that I had way more to give. My coaches (Szalat, former assistant Monica Shelly and current assistant Donn Larson) helped me realize after that first state that cross country is run with the trust of a team.

“Feeling motivated, again, I relaxed myself into a state of peace, but am always thinking of the next season. I spent my summers running and logging as many miles as possible. I was able to convince my best friends, Logan Reed and Levi Oder-Westrum, to join me in the sport. I felt even happier running with my friends and every practice seemed easier. When we qualified for state our junior year, again, everything felt so different. I saw my teammates and spectators crying and I just knew that we had a strong Gael family.”

Shannon calls Szalat a true role model “who suits up and shows up every day to make me a better student, athlete and human being. He makes me want to be better.”

Along with cross country and track, Shannon is also involved in student council, Respect for Life, Gael Force show choir, chamber choir, concert choir, band, basketball, volunteers at Holy Trinity Parish and in the wider community.

“I’m going to miss this strong community of great leaders, and the opportunities I’ve been given,” Shannon said. “I’m going to miss walking past someone in the hall and visiting with them. My friends will hopefully always be a part of my life, but those I get to see once in a while in the hallways and get a smile from is what I’ll miss most.”

Shannon’s future plans include attending college and continuing to run while further exploring his other passion, music.

Vacation destination: Hawaii.

People I would like to have dinner with: I can think of nobody better than my St. Edmond class.

It would surprise people that I: had to learn three languages Wolayetegna, Amharic and English before the age of five.

My sports role model: Ellie Knox.

My everyday role model: Mike Szalat.

I can’t go a day without: peach nectarine Redbull.

Nickname: LeeLee thanks to my older sister, Kathleen.

Favorite road trip: going to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to see my older sister, nieces and nephews.

What are you listening to right now? the French group Stromae and song “tous le memes.”

Favorites…

Team: St. Edmond Gaels.

Athlete: Yomif Kejelcha.

Class: Engineering.

Movie: Deadpool.

Binge watch: Breaking Bad.

Song: Mockingbird.

Book: All American Boys.

App: Instagram.