By Aziza Moyer, Reporter
For the first time in many years, the boys cross country team is having major success, holding second in their league. Usually the girls team is the one that shines, but this season the boys are showing their ability to rank higher in meets as well.
“This year we got a couple of new, fast recruits and saw a big increase in the ability of the returning guys,” said team captain, senior Isaac Hughes. “Instead of getting last place as a team at our meets, we’ve been getting second place, something our coach hasn’t seen from our guys team in a decade.”
Cross country is known to be a tough sport that requires a lot of hardiness and endurance from its participants, but this year, expectations for the team have been pushed even higher. New rules have been put in place limiting the number of people going to State from ten runners per district to only seven.
“It will just make it more competitive and challenging to go to State this year and the following years,” said junior varsity runner, Gianno Waller.
On top of rising demands, there are also plenty of injuries plaguing the team.
“One of our top runners, Sam Foucault, tore his meniscus at the beginning of the season, ending the season for him,” said Hughes. “Luke Larson, another top runner, has been fighting his own injuries all year. So yeah, it’s been tough for sure.”
The rule changes and abundance of injuries certainly raise the difficulty level of getting to State for the team, but despite this they are doing quite well.
“They have been doing better and better each meet as a team, and each individual has been achieving quicker times almost every contest,” said coach Laura Johnson. “They work together while they run, pushing each other to run their best and being strategic in the races to score better as a team.”
Hughes agrees, praising everyone’s welcoming attitude and sense of community.
“[I first started] cross country [because it] doesn’t necessarily require good genetics or super technical skills, just some shoes and a whole lot of grit,” he said. “Of course, now I do cross country for different reasons, including how accepting everyone is on the team, and the spirit and tenacity of the coaches.”