Intensity, perseverance and determination are the virtues seen in the BVH cross country program as runners test their flexibility, endurance and speed. Part of this legacy are a pair of BVH siblings who have excelled in these expectations. Senior Renee and sophomore Isaac Khuong, both multi-year varsity runners, go above and beyond whenever they practice and compete in meets. R. Khuong’s impressive feats include being awarded most valuable runner in 2025, with I. Khuong being featured as the 4th fastest freshman at the half mile distance in BVH history. BVH cross country coach of seven years, Dr. Daniel Kettlehake, shared his first impressions of the two runners.

“I saw both of them in middle school, so I knew that they were talented coming in. Renee has just been outstanding, she has been focused since minute one and has done a great job. It is the same with Isaac, [he] just needs more time, as it takes a while for runners to develop to be great runners. He is going to be just as good,” Kettlehake said. 

Kettlehake describes the Khuong siblings as hard-working. He further expressed this by putting an emphasis on the work they put into running during the summer, which he highlighted as an important part of training for cross country. Due to coming from an athletic family, the Khuong siblings are very involved in sports, which translates into their work ethic. R. Khuong shared how bonding over the same sport with her brother helps with her motivation.

“We are really close friends and we get along really well. [Being able to spend time with him] makes practice really fun and a better experience for me. [Sharing a sport with my sibling] is very special and it is definitely one of my highlights,” R. Khuong said. “We both have the same work ethic, train really hard and face a lot of similar setbacks.”

Working together to become the best runners they can is an important and rewarding experience. Next year, the youngest sister of the Khuong family–Elena Khuong–will be entering the cross country team at BVH as a freshman, continuing this line of sibling support. However,  an obstacle that both R. Khuong and I. Khuong have struggled with is a condition called anemia, which occurs when the body does not have enough healthy blood cells or hemoglobins. Anemia affects their energy levels, directly affecting their ability to run cross country. R. Khuong shared that she was able to receive treatment for it after getting her blood tested, and I. Khoung explains how he has been able to adjust to roadblocks. 

“Last year, I got injured. I had tendonitis in my knees, which means they were inflamed and it hurt to run. I had to take three weeks off to let them heal up. [The way I overcame that]  was just being patient and making sure I was feeling better so I could start running. Right now I am anemic, which means I am not running as fast as I should. I am just trying to make sure I eat red meat and take iron as much as possible,” I. Khuong said.

Physical health is one of the main aspects to be aware of when it comes to athletes’ capabilities to do the best they can at their sport. Without maintaining a good diet, physique and general health, it can make participating in a sport that much harder. It is the same for mental health, which is assisted by a strong community. R. Khuong shares how she stays motivated despite potential setbacks, with the support of those close to her.

“My support system consists of my family, my friends, my coaches and my teammates. All of them help motivate me, help me stay positive and support me through whatever barriers or setbacks I am facing. My parents are my biggest motivators. They have pushed me a lot to improve and achieve all the goals that I have set and seeing them both succeed a lot in their own training and running has motivated me a lot too,” R. Khuong said.

Khuong further expressed that seeing her parents succeed in their athletic endeavors makes her feel a sense of pride, and wanting to push for more to live up to the same standard. Having a family who can offer support in whatever endeavors that are pursued, as well as being able to share that sense of relatability, makes for a more motivating environment, ultimately assisting with success in races. One member of Renee’s support system, junior Sophia Ambriz, shared how her friendship with Renee has developed and her overall impression of her friend.

“I have been friends with Renee for about three years now. I was just starting cross country and didn’t know very many people, but she was so welcoming. It is so impressive to see her run. It looks so effortless and she looks strong and focused,” Ambriz said. “She definitely has an on and off switch. She can be silly and fun, however, she knows when it is time to get to work and she works hard. She is very thorough about everything she does, you can expect her 100% every time. [People] tend to overlook her personality beyond running, honestly, she is a great person. She is interesting and outgoing if you get to know her.” 

Building and maintaining friendships is an important part of building a healthy lifestyle for any student. This is especially true for athletes, and as Ambriz mentions, for teammates. Being able to get along with and work well with others on the same team helps make training and races that much more seamless. One of Isaac’s friends and teammates, sophomore Nathan Callihan, explains what he finds impressive about Isaac. 

“[Isaac] values hard work and does not let [anything] stop him from his objectives, whether that is keeping straight A’s or giving his best effort at cross country practices. Isaac’s work ethic sets him apart as someone who does not cheat or take dishonest shortcuts, even if it means late nights working hard or a slightly worse grade on an assignment,” Callihan said. “I also participate in our cross country team, so I have been able to watch and compete with Isaac as he races. When I get to watch him run, it is motivating and exciting as he remains calm and works his way up, passing people throughout the race and consistently scoring as a top runner on our team. He is also a reliable athlete; Isaac can always be depended on as an experienced and talented person.”

As Callihan describes, Isaac is hard-working in both his sport as well as in his schoolwork. Through running cross country, both Isaac and Renee have been able to reach new heights while maintaining stable grades and relationships. Kettlehake leaves readers off with an explanation of both runners’ capabilities and characteristics.

“They both put a lot of expectations on themselves, and that is always hard,” Kettlehake said. “They show up every day, ready to work and do all the little things like proper rest, nutrition, hydration, strength, flexibility and training hard. They both want to be great, which Renee and Isaac will be.”