Every Saturday morning while the world sleeps soundly, North Cobb Cross Country (NCXC) wakes up before the sun to participate in five-kilometer races, preparing for their coveted state competition. August 31, however, the schedule bore no competition: this day remained solely dedicated to building camaraderie and team spirit.
The NCXC intra-squad relays took place at the NC campus, featuring eight 975-meter laps spanning the NC trails and freshman football field, teams made of two dividing and conquering the distance. This year, 20 teams ran the relays, presenting a tough but exciting challenge. Unlike any other race, only NC students participate in this event awarding the Warriors as winners no matter the outcome. Additionally, no matter who secured a medal, each teammate grew closer to each other, practiced their short-distance stamina and reveled in an exciting time. No losers emerged that morning.
Taking home the gold in a physical form though, freshman Natalie Zeferino and magnet junior Jed Nugugi led the pack through the trails, securing the first-place spot from their starting laps. Magnet junior Grace Amah and sophomore Nickolaj Verbanac followed strongly, earning a well-deserved second place.
The running, however, did not stand as the sole competition. As a fun twist, the relays also featured a riveting costume contest. With a requirement of running one leg in the race fully donned, coaches encouraged runners to dress in their best capes, tutus and masks — a fun break from their usual uniforms and creating an opportunity for team bonding. This year’s winners featured a group sporting yellow body paint, a bald cap and a unicorn plush: the notorious minions, worn by sophomores Jordan Homier, Cassie Cervantes, Mariah Brisbane, and magnet junior Tobi Ometeso. The grumpy Gru came to life, worn by Coach Craig Denison, and Gru’s daughters Margot by magnet junior Grace Amah, Edith by junior Cassidy Lumpkin and Agnes by magnet junior Kennedi Tolbert. As a scarce amount of medals existed to award everyone, only Homier, Cervantes and Lumpkin won the awards. In true team fashion though, the girls declared that if one of them won, all of them won. Senior Antonio Brown did not leave room for disappointment; he secured second place with an impressive face of Joker-themed makeup and an eccentric green wig.
“I’m very excited about this race. Every year I dress up and I’m really impressed with us this year because we have more people dressing up than any other year [I have seen] before. The fact that everyone’s excited about this race… it’s really making me happy to see how our team is evolving, especially through team-building exercises like this relay race,” Tolbert said.
During the last season, only approximately 10 runners dressed up. In contrast, a vast majority of the 2024 XC team donned costumes, including but not limited to Luigi, Alvin and the Chipmunks and an inflatable alien. The excitement of the shared experience and competition shone on the student’s faces.
Unlike the majority of the team’s usual 5k’s, the relays provided an accessible and cost-free race for parents to spectate. To travel to XC meet locations, school buses escorted runners and coaches from in front of the school. Parents attain their own ride and pay entrance fees to enter the game, but the relays, existing locally and fee-free, allow parents to easily watch their kids interact with their team and perform in a race.
“I like to see when they’re all talking together, it’s good camaraderie… just like now when they’re all just talking, having water and hanging out. [Avery Duby] just loves being out here. She’s excited to show up not just to race, but just [for her] friends on the team,” parent Steve Duby said.
Especially for parents unable to attend all the races, seeing the community built within the XC team allows them to understand the sport behind their kids’ stories and the cost of new running shoes. XC contrasts with other popular sports such as football, which publicize their games and players. Without ever attending a meet, it’s unlikely for a parent to understand the scoring system, recognize other runners or witness their kids’ NC spirit. This relay then, especially taking place so early in the season, creates the perfect opportunity for parents to become involved and aware with nearly no money loss or time spent traveling.
Beyond serving as a team-building experience and accessible option for parents, the XC intra-squad relays aid runners in enhancing their athletic performance. The team’s races, excluding their two-mile kickoff race, all feature a 3.1-mile course. The relays allow athletes to practice something beyond their usual Saturday experience, expanding their capabilities.
“The races are 3.1 miles and that’s mainly focusing on aerobics and your stamina. But today [August 31], I think it’s a good [practice] for shorter stamina if you will, just over half a mile…. It’s also breaking the monotony of doing a 5k every Saturday,” Coach Wesley Mitchel said.
With a strong start to the season, NC’s XC team continues to run a path of success, acting as a cohesive and determined team. State competition lies just on the horizon for them, a realistic achievement possible only through events like these that create a team from individual runners.
