February scholar-athlete: East Aurora's Owen Rung

EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) — East Aurora High School’s cross-country program is one of the best here in Western New York.

In November 2023, both the girls and boy's teams finished their seasons by winning a state title. Senior Owen Rung led the way, placing second in the Class C race.

"I joined varsity as a sophomore and that's when I found this group and how good of a group it was like with the seniors on the team then. They were good to me and since then I've had a group of people that I just really like training with and talking to" Rung said.

Despite the many hours of practice and training he's put into running; Owen is appreciative of the group he has around him.

"It doesn't feel like work when I'm with them and I value that, it makes training a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable, and that's really why I like coming to practice each day," he said.

Owen will continue his academic and athletic career at Cornell University, where’s he interested in studying nutrition science. Owen's passion for being great at running carries over into the classroom as well. He has a 4.0 GPA and credits his academic success to his competitiveness.

 "It might not show on the surface but I'm secretively competitive. I use that in my schoolwork too, I try to be the best that I can. Education is important to me because it's the future," he said.

Head coach Walt McLaughlin sees firsthand the work that Owen puts in and how his dedication never fails him.

"He has a great work ethic; I think that's what sets him apart. A lot of times as a coach you think that our job is for kids to do more, for Owen I have to hold him back a bit more, he's like a racehorse. I got to make sure he doesn't do too much," McLaughlin said. "But he's motivated, goal orientated, and I think that's really what helps him."