The LCM Cross Country team is working hard to get more people competing at the State level this year.
According to coach Dena Adkins, students should not be scared to give cross country a try.
“Running is a great way to become physically fit and by joining a team here at school you make new friends and create memories that will last forever,” Adkins said. “You might even surprise yourself with how well you do. It’s tough but so is life.”
According to Adkins, the season should go well. The new runners are doing well, and they are trying to do as best as they can in the meets, and they are giving their all.
“I like how the runners are looking early on,” Adkins said. “I’ve had a great turnout of runners, and they are really working hard. I believe as a team we will bring home some trophies and many individual medals.”
Some individual runners are putting out so much effort to make themselves better and the rest of the team better. According to Adkins, two girls in particular are doing well and leading the team. For the boys, all of them are doing well in putting in just as much effort.
“Right now, it’s too soon to say who the top runners will be,” Adkins said. “But looking at the way the kids are training and performing at practice I would say that Allyson Welch and Karlie Seymour will be leading the girls. The boys’ team is hard to call because they are all pushing each other so hard to be their very best.”
The top runners are working hard to help the new runners to get better and to place in State.
“I think the season is going be a wonderful season because we have a lot of great runners this year and I think we have a chance of placing at district and going to Regionals,” sophomore cross country runner Allyson Welch said.
Getting a place isn’t their only goal at the meets, they also have personal goals as well.
“My goal for my future of running is to get my times down at each meet,” senior cross country runner Karlie Seymour said. “I want to make it to State this year. Although it takes a lot of practice, I know I could do it.”
Adkins loves her job coaching the cross country and softball teams and teaching health.
“Before my two knee surgeries I was an avid runner,” Adkins said. “I enjoyed training for 5K’s and 10K’s and I even did two half marathons. I love to watch the cross country meets and see my kids improve and compete every week. Cross country is an exciting sport to watch. I know a lot of people don’t understand how anyone could enjoy running as much as we do but if they would just take the time and come to a meet or two, they would see why the kids do it.”
The cross country team will compete at the 34th annual Dayton Bronco Invitational at Dayton High School. The boys will run at 8:10 a.m. and the girls will run at 9:10 a.m.
