Camden Roth is not a big school guy. He'll tell you that himself, no apology attached.

What the Tri-Valley eighth grader is, without question, is a runner.

He's been doing cross country since sixth grade. Last fall was his best season — he dropped from a 13:30 at his first meet to a 12:01 by the end, and Corpus Christi was his favorite course to run. In track, he runs the mile, the 800, and the 4x4 relay.

"It's a hard sport," he said.

At sectionals last fall, Camden placed 39th out of about 100 runners. In cross country, team scoring works like golf — low number wins. The top three teams advance to state. Tri-Valley finished fourth.

By one point.

"We got fourth, and we lost by one point," Camden said.

He didn't frame it as a personal result. His first instinct was the team. "It's a team sport," he said, and then explained the scoring as though making sure the record was clear.

The improvement from 13:30 to 12:01 didn't happen on its own. Camden credits his coaches — Coach Flessner, who just got married but whose team still calls her Flessner; Coach Savage; and Coach Nettles, who helps out from time to time.

"They're always screaming, 'You've got this,'" he said. "And then when we're doing workouts or easy runs, they're talking about the next step. What's next for me?"

He also credits his parents, both former athletes themselves. "They kind of understand it," he said.

Camden has a twin sister, Kiera, who plays softball and also runs cross country and track. The family schedule is constant — and the way it works is simple. During cross country and track season, the attention is on Camden. During softball season, it shifts to Kiera.

"When it comes to cross country and track, my sister, she's kind of out the window," he said. "And it's more of my sport. And then when it comes to softball for my sister, I'm out the window."

His dad handles the logistics — food, protein, driving from a noon softball game to an evening track meet, always there. "He's always driving around and coming to anything he can," Camden said.

The family moved from Normal to the edge of Downs when Camden was young — his dad's job brought them here — and he's been in the district since kindergarten. Most of his classmates have, too.

"Everybody kind of knows each other," he said. "You get to know people. Everybody's really supportive."

Outside of running, Camden's life is uncomplicated in the best sense. He likes family vacations. He likes movies. He walks around the neighborhood with friends and talks.

"We just kind of talk, walk, go on walks around the neighborhood," he said. "Watch movies and stuff like that."

High school is next. He's mostly excited. A little nervous.

"I'm excited mostly," he said. "But I'm getting a little nervous now."

He knows what he's looking forward to: cross country and track. The academics will be harder, but he's not worried about being alone in it. "I have family and friends supporting me and helping me," he said. "So I feel like that part will be kind of easy."

When asked what he'd tell his third-grade self, he didn't hesitate.

"Don't give up, even when times are hard," he said. "And if you love something, then just keep doing it."

When asked what he'd say to his classmates as they finish middle school,, he tried. "Most of us have been here since kindergarten," he started. "And we’ve come a long way so far." Then he stopped. "I just don't really know," he said.

He didn't need to finish it. The sentiment — pitch perfect — was already there.