A season racing to start
The girls’ cross country season is quickly approaching the start line. With the girls’ first meet of the season coming up in two weeks, the team is pushing for great practices to prepare them for a great first meet.
Jacob Graff
The girls’ cross country team is working hard in practice to ensure their first meet is a successful one. The season starts in Logansport at the Jacob Graff Invitational Meet. The Jacob Graff is a memorial meet for Jacob, who tragically lost his life in an accident. The team enjoys running the meet because it is a great preview for both the county and the sectional meets. Head coach, Denise Rush expressed her excitement for the invite, “ I love this meet for our first invitational because it is a good preview for sectionals with great competition.” The twenty-three-team invite includes many sectional teams and some extra competition to really push the girls.
Putting in the work to cross the finish line as winners
Over the summer, the cross country team had optional practices designed to get them into the shape they need to be in to have another great season. The team has worked tirelessly over both the summer and the first two weeks of mandatory practices. Coach Rush is very pleased with the team’s first few practices. “The girls have been hitting their times, and many are ahead of where they were last year.” Rush has expressed her love for the work ethic of this year’s seniors and the whole team. Rush said, “I am very pleased with the effort the girls are putting in, especially in the heat this past week, and I love that my team gets along with each other so well.”
Having a team like a family
Many of the girls on the team love how the team feels like a family. Senior, Alexis Alford expressed how she is most looking forward to being in the moment with her teammates to enjoy her last year with her cross country family. Throughout the summer conditioning, the girls have the opportunity to participate in team bonding to help create friendships that will last a lifetime. Sophomore Hope Rush expressed her love for the way her teammates uplift and support each other. From the managers to the athletes, there is always an abundance of friendship between the girls.
A peek into the season
With such a talented group of girls, this season is bound to go just as well as the last season. The girls have been pushing even harder this year to reach the seniors’ goals for the team. “The work and dedication each girl has been putting in goes really well with the quote this season, ‘The teamwork in cross country is knowing that the collective effort is greater than the sum of its parts.’ – Alberto Salazar. Rush continues saying, “I am looking forward to seeing the girls each improve and work hard for our team goals. The seniors have set some high goals this year for the team. It is going to take the whole team to achieve these goals.” It is no secret that the girls’ cross country team is destined to have another great year. Come out and support them at their first meet in Logansport at the Jacob Graff Invitational.
