The Centralia High School Cross Country Program is more than just a sport—it’s a foundation for growth, discipline, and opportunity. And for student-athlete Aurora Amason, it’s been a transformative part of her high school experience. Guided by longtime Coach Kyle Blanchard, Aurora’s story is one of perseverance, dedication, and a relentless drive for success, both on and off the track.

A LEGACY OF RUNNING
Aurora’s passion for running isn’t something that happened overnight. It’s a part of her family’s DNA. “My mom started running in high school, and even after having kids, she just never stopped,” Aurora says. It was her mother who first encouraged Aurora to lace up her sneakers for fun runs as a child. What began as a family tradition soon became a personal pursuit, with Aurora falling in love with the discipline and freedom that running offers.

Now a junior, Aurora has been running competitively since she was six years old. Though she also competes in track, running the mile, the two-mile, and the 4x800 relay, cross country holds a special place in her heart. “Cross country is where I really feel at home,” she explains. “There’s something about the long, challenging runs that pushes me to be my best.”

GUIDED BY EXCELLENCE
Aurora’s success is not by chance—she’s under the watchful eye of Coach Kyle Blanchard, who has led the CHS Cross Country Program for the past eight years. With 31 years in the district and a passion for both track and cross country, Coach Blanchard knows what it takes to develop student-athletes who don’t just compete—they excel.

For Aurora, the connection with her coach goes deeper than the usual athlete-coach relationship. “He coached my mom too,” she says with a smile. “There’s a history there, and it’s cool to know I’m following in her footsteps, quite literally.”

Coach Blanchard sees something special in Aurora. “She’s driven to excel at everything she does, not just running,” he says. “It’s part of her personality. Whether it’s tackling a new workout or balancing school and athletics, she’s always striving for more.”

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
Aurora’s dedication is evident in her daily routine, even during the summer months when she spends time at her family’s fishing resort in Ontario, Canada. “I’m on an island all summer, but I still keep up my running,” she explains. With her Garmin watch tracking every mile, Coach Blanchard can see her progress even from afar. “Sometimes I’m up in Canada, but I’m still training, doing four-mile runs on most days and pushing up to seven on long days.”

That discipline has paid off. This season, Aurora has already shaved 15 seconds off her personal best time, with a goal of breaking 19 minutes in the 5K. “I want to go to state,” she says, her eyes lighting up with determination. “It’s been years since a girl from Centralia made it to state, and I want to change that.”

But for Aurora, running isn’t just about achieving fast times. It’s about learning from both success and failure. She recalls a particularly tough race in Peoria last year where she didn’t perform her best. “I didn’t feel great that day, and I got beat by girls I knew I could beat,” she admits. “But that race pushed me harder. It made me mad enough to want to improve.”

BALANCING ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS
Aurora isn’t just excelling on the track— she’s a standout in the classroom as well. A dedicated student, she’s enrolled in honors pre-calculus, where, fittingly, Coach Blanchard is also her teacher. “Math is my strongest subject,” Aurora says. “I plan on going to Missouri S&T to study mechanical engineering.” It’s a field that requires the same kind of precision and problem-solving skills that running demands, and Aurora is ready for the challenge.

Aurora’s dream is to continue running in college, combining her love for athletics with her academic ambitions. “Missouri S&T has a great cross country program, and I’m excited to see where it takes me,” she says.

A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD
For Coach Blanchard, seeing athletes like Aurora thrive is what makes his job worthwhile. “We’ve had a number of students go on to run in college, and it’s always amazing to see them succeed,” he says. “Aurora is one of those students who has the drive and determination to go far, both in running and in life.”

Aurora’s story is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and the supportive environment that Centralia High School provides. With big dreams on the horizon and a community rooting for her, Aurora Amason is running toward a bright and promising future— one that she’s sure to tackle with the same energy and focus she brings to every race.