Addison DesRosiers is taking a step forward for the Pentucket girls cross country team.

And at least part of her progression may be because of some other stepping — as an Irish step dancer — the last eight years.

DesRosiers took up Irish step dancing as an 8-year-old, and she's been involved with it ever since, training out of the Bremer School in Salem, Mass., and competing at a national and even world level.

This past summer, she finished third in the U16 nationals in Nashville, Tenn., and last year she finished 18th in the U15 world competition in Ireland.

Next April, she'll be competing in the U16 world competition in Scotland.

"I hope to be in at least the top 20 (in the world)," said DesRosiers, a junior. "I spend so much time at it, I set high goals for myself.

"This has always been a part of me and I just love it. I like the competition, all the friends I meet ... and it's just so much fun."

Addie, as her friends call her, won't start training in earnest for the Worlds until December, however, because she's putting her focus on cross country. Thus far, it's paying off for DesRosiers, who graduated from Bradford Christian Academy.

The No. 4 or No. 5 runner for the Sachems last year, she's been striving to be second on the team behind state champion contender Alanna Poretta and two weeks ago in a dual meet at Hamilton-Wenham, she did just that, finishing the challenging 2.9-mile course in 19:55.

"I think that will give her a big boost," said first-year Pentucket coach Todd Ruland. "I know it's something she's wanted and she's worked hard to get there."

To accomplish that goal, DesRosiers ran extra miles in the summer, but she believes that her involvement with Irish step dancing has begun to make a positive impact on her running.

"It makes me strong, it teaches me to be focused under pressure and I think it makes me more competitive," said DesRosiers, who also runs indoor and outdoor track at Pentucket.

Moreover, the benefits work both ways.

"I know cross country helps my endurance for dance," said DesRosiers, who lives in West Newbury. "The (dance) routines are only two to three minutes long, but they're intense."

Partly with that in mind, DesRosiers will strive to continue improving in cross country, trying to reach her own goals and to help lift the team higher in the big meets later in the season.

After all, the closer she, Amy and Caroline Babeu and others can get to Poretta, the better the team will do.

Competing for her sister

While training for the cross country season over the summer, DesRosiers took time out to train for and compete for the second straight year in a triathlon (1/4-mile swim, 20-mile bike ride, 5-mile run) in Kinderhook, N.Y.

"I did it to benefit cystic fibrosis, in honor of my younger sister," said DesRosiers. "I'm really proud of her."

DesRosiers has good reason to be proud. Younger sister Haley is a freshman, and the team's high scorer (5 goals), on Pentucket's girls soccer team.

"She's had it since birth, but it hasn't really stopped her at all," said DesRosiers. "She has to take her medicine and always have her inhaler, but that's about it."