The cross country team is preparing for the upcoming season where they hope to place in the top two for the regional competition and qualify for states.

  Athletes on the team have prepared for the upcoming season by conditioning during the summer. Continuous practice is important for athletes to stay in shape and maintain their athletic abilities.

“If you don’t run over the summer, you’re missing out on miles,” junior Lillian Liles said. “You need to build your miles up before you can add speed to them. If you don’t have those miles, you’re unable to add speed or have the endurance to race.” 

The team has been focusing on running drills and team-building exercises during practices. Running drills build up the endurance and speed of runners, and team-building exercises help the athletes bond and work together better. Both are crucial to achieving the lowest score possible.

“The way cross country is scored is the lowest points win,” cross country coach Amy Wilson said. “You get 1 point for 1st place, 2 for 2nd, etc. The top 5 runners score for the team and the 6 & 7th runners are placeholders. Placeholders can push other runners back farther, which will get that team more points.  If our team comes in as a group, we keep our points low.”

Long-distance running provides athletes with many life skills. One skill is the ability to keep going when continuing is difficult. Athletes learn this skill by persevering even when met with challenges.

“Cross country has benefitted me by helping my mental stamina, which I think many athletes tend to get from doing longer runs,” senior Gavin Myers said.

Discipline, determination, and teamwork are characteristics necessary for cross country. For any team to succeed, they must encourage one another to be their best selves and run as a unit, even when it’s difficult.

  “Cross country is a very mentally tough sport and harder when running a 5k,” Wilson said. “Sometimes this may mean running by yourself in the woods against the clock.  If we can take away the ‘by yourself,’ there is a teammate that will help and push you to do your best.”