This Saturday the cross country team will be traveling to Weatherford for their first meet. New cross-country coach, Ashlea Dowell, has been holding practices before and after school. Athletes make it to at least one of the practices, if not both.

This is Coach Dowell’s first year and according to her team, she is starting out on the right foot. Hanna Noble said, “I chose to run cross country because it puts me in better shape and I love the coach.”

LaShayla Green, Keely Green, Arianna Green, Taylor Dowell, Hanna Noble, and Brianna Redhat have been practicing and preparing for the 2-mile high school girls’ race. Deonte Murray, Garrett Nippert, and Cooper Evans have been preparing for their 3.1-mile race.

The junior high has two cross country athletes, 7th-grader Ariel Green and 8th-grader Charlie Evans. The elementary has several 5th and 6th graders going out for the season.

Coach Dowell said, “Cross Country is a character-building sport. Distance running is for the mentally and physically strong. I am very proud of the athletes that push themselves and show up and compete for their teammates and their school.”

The team made it to state in 2015 with Coach Trent Ritter. They placed 12th last year and missed state by two places.