Going the Distance: Racing Into the First Cross Country Meet
The boys’ Varsity team departs from the start line, alongside competitive foes. Senior Patrick Moran (Pictured 2nd NC runner from the left), earned the team’s best time at 10:56.51. Boys Varsity showed great diligence and heart through fierce competition, and hundreds of fans watching. “It looks like we have some really good runners especially on our Varsity team, so I hope we can make state this year,” Sophomore JV runner Lewis Wheaton said.
August 22, 2019
The 2019-2020 boy’s and girl’s Varsity and JV cross country team kicked off their season by showcasing the work put in during their pre-season preparation at the Hoya Invitational, held at Allatoona Creek Park. Along with the Warriors, fellow competitors including the Harrison Hoyas, Wheeler Wildcats, Parkview Panthers, Mill Creek Hawks, Brookwood Broncos, North Paulding Wolfpack, and McEachern Indians, among others fought to the finish on the morning of Saturday, August 17.
“The goals [for this season] are to get our athletes, boys and girls, qualified for state. The conditions today started out nice and cool, but by the time the Varsity kids ran it definitely warmed up some,” head co-ed cross country Coach John Huff said.
Between the two-mile gravel and grassy trail, both the varsity and JV boys and girls gave a positive performance through the tough course conditions.
Several North Cobb teams placed in the middle of the results, with the highest place awarded to Boy’s Junior Varsity, placing 9th overall. Though the team as a whole did not place highly, both sides displayed strong individual performances. Freshman Alexis Christain showed off her accelerated abilities at her first high school cross country meet by placing 31st in the Varsity Girl’s race with a time of 13:21.13.
Freshman Alexis Christain impressed fellow NC coaches and runners as she placed as the top girl on the NC girls’ team. Christain plans to achieve a 20-minute 5k time by the end of the season. Though a youthful team, the girls Varsity team replaces experience with relentless positive energy.
“[The course today] was pretty easy but had a little hill at the end. My goal for the season is to get my 5k down to 20 minutes,” Christain said.
On the boy’s side, Senior Patrick Moran placed 34th out of 145 competitors, with a time of 10:56.51. Moran, a star runner for the North Cobb team, consistently demonstrates improvement between each season and places among the best in the state.
Along with Moran and Christain, the boys’ and girls’ teams also garnered impressive results from Maya Ponder, Anna Crawford, Bentley Huff, and Isaac Stobo.
“It looks like we have some really good runners, especially on our Varsity team, so I hope we can make state this year,” sophomore JV runner Lewis Wheaton said.
Freshman Alexis Christain impressed fellow NC coaches and runners as she placed as the top girl on the NC girls’ team. Christain plans to achieve a 20-minute 5k time by the end of the season. Though a youthful team, the girls Varsity team replaces experience with relentless positive energy.
Despite not attaining the desired goals of the first meet, the 2019-2020 cross country team sets their eyes on newer trails, bigger goals, and shorter times. Be sure to come out and support the NC cross country team this weekend, as they race in the Ridge Ferry Invitational in Rome, Georgia August 24.
