For most high school runners, qualifying for the California State Cross Country Championships is an achievement in itself. For senior Silas Aberer, this year’s race in Clovis marked something even rarer: a finish that placed him among the best in the state and among the best in school history.
Competing on Saturday, Nov. 29, Aberer crossed the line in 15:16.8, earning 10th place out of 219 athletes in the Division III race. The performance secured him a spot on the All-State list, making him just the seventh Burroughs runner ever to earn the title. The only others to do so are Jared Zurn (2003), Alan Lloyd (2006), Bryce Hill (2019), and three-time All-Stater Zion Ortiz (2022–2024).
For Aberer — who entered high school unsure of where running might take him — the moment carried years of weight.
“Achieving All-State means a lot to me because it seemed so unachievable as a freshman,” he said. “This has been a long-term goal, but after four years of training, it’s finally paid off.”
The journey wasn’t smooth. Midseason, Aberer suffered an injury that threatened not just his momentum, but his ability to compete at all.
“I got injured about halfway through the season, and there were a few weeks where I wasn’t sure if I would be fully recovered in time for CIF or the state meet,” he said. “It also meant that I wasn’t in as good of fitness as I had expected to be on race day.”
Despite the setback, Aberer found strength in the people around him. He credits Burroughs’ coaching staff and his teammates, especially the support he felt at Clovis, where almost the entire varsity squad made the trip to cheer him on.
“My coaches and teammates have helped me train and progress throughout the season in order to get here,” Aberer said. “Almost the entire varsity team came up to Clovis with me to support me and cheer me on, which is really helpful when you’re running by yourself.”
Although his 10th-place finish fell just short of the cutoff for nationals, Aberer walked away proud and hungry for what comes next. A longtime training partner of school record holder Zion Ortiz, he now turns his attention to spring track, where he hopes to carry the legacy forward.
“I’m excited to follow in the footsteps of our school record holder, Zion Ortiz, whom I ran with for three years, as I enter the track season and chase his PRs,” Aberer said.
For Burroughs, Aberer’s achievement places him in a lineage spanning more than two decades. It’s one built on grit, consistency, and the belief that even the loftiest goals can be reached, one mile at a time.
