Meryl Nash's mother didn't require her to run cross-country at Council Rock three years ago. But she wanted her daughter involved in a school activity, any activity.

"My mom said I couldn't just do nothing after school," Nash said. "She said I had to pick something. I can't catch or throw. I played flute, but I didn't want to be in band."

Now a Council Rock South senior, Nash tried cross-country and quickly learned there were easier ways to spend her time. At her first meet - the Central Bucks East Invitational - Nash stopped two miles into the 3.1-mile race.

"I was tired and I had cramps," she said. "I had never run through a lot of pain before."

Nash gradually got used to the sport's demands and eventually began to flourish under Council Rock coach Cliff Robbins' guidance.

When Council Rock split into North and South this school year, Nash found herself flying as the Golden Hawks' No. 1 runner.

She won the Council Rock Invitational large-school race Sept. 28 with a time of 20 minutes, 16 seconds on Tyler State Park's 3.1-mile course.

At the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA/AAA meet last year, her 14th-place finish helped the Indians take second overall.

"My mom said I could do what I wanted, thinking I might quit," Nash said of her first attempt at cross-country. "I ended up liking the sport and meeting my best friends. Everybody started getting involved in high school sports that year. What pushed me to stay more was meeting the people on the team."

Of course, it can be hard to make new friends when you're gasping for oxygen.

"Have a little exercise - little did I know what I was getting into," said Nash, who carries a 3.2 grade point average and is considering Lehigh, Delaware and Penn State for college.

"Running is the most torture and pain I could imagine. We ran six or seven miles the first day. I think I went about four miles."

South coach Brian Prudish, who served as Robbins' assistant when Nash started her career, still jokes about her slow start.

"I'll ask her about which race she didn't finish," Prudish laughed.

But then he turns serious.

"Meryl survived," Prudish said. "She worked herself into one of the best in District 1. Every day with Meryl is a joy. Twenty-three years from now when I retire, when people ask me about Council Rock South, I'll remember her."

As Nash was learning the sport, she received nothing but encouragement from Robbins and Prudish.

"[Robbins] said, 'You'll keep training and get better one day,' " she said.

Nash spent her freshman year on the junior varsity team, dropping to the 23-minute mark by season's end. She stayed with the sport during track season and did some running before her sophomore year, making the varsity team and even running at states.

"I remember it being extremely intimidating just to be there," she said. "I don't think I helped the team out by being the seventh runner, but it was OK."

Last year, Nash made a major breakthrough, usually running second to fourth on a squad that won the Suburban One League Patriot Division and placed ninth at states. During the outdoor season, she ran a personal best of 5:13 for 1,600 meters.

Both South and North have enjoyed successful seasons, despite the split. Junior Jess Cickay remains North's top runner, while Nash and senior Jen Shouldis are South's captains. South is 6-2 heading into Friday's Suburban One League American Conference meet at Ursinus College.

"Basically, Jess is still one of my best friends," Nash said. "We thought we would have a strong team overall. It's weird to think I still don't run with her."

The District 1 championship meet is set for Oct. 25 at Lehigh, and both Council Rock South and North have a shot at placing among the top five teams and qualifying for states.

"If we make states, it will be close, and if we miss, it won't be by much," Prudish said. "All the distractions we had with the [teachers'] strike and split schedule, you can't ask for more.

"Council Rock South's time is coming. People will ask 10 or 15 years from now what made Council Rock South good, and it will be because we had people like Meryl Nash and Jen Shouldis. Meryl Nash makes me look good."