Year after year, it is mono y mono for cross country runners as they go the distance.  With the school year in full swing, it is time for another cross country season.

The runners started the season well at the Rock Hill Twilight Invitational, a two mile race, on August 19 with the elite varsity boys and girls teams finishing 4th and 9th, respectively.  The top performers for the boys were Britain Chancellor (10:04), Dylan Grzywinski (10:26), Aiden Maricle (10:46), Thomas Hayes (10:55), Dax Ritchie (10:58), Kaison Krembs (11:05), and Trenton Hunter (11:06).  For the girls, the top performers were Rebekah Gould (13:18), Sophia Altieri (13:25), Kaydin Jo Hughes (13:26), Hope Snedaker (13:42), Madelyn Schroeder (13:52), Claire Enright (14:06), and Erica Gentry (14:36).

They then ran at the Caroll Dragon XC classic on August 27, placing 16th and 4th as a team.  The top performers for the boys were Britain Chancellor (16:10), Aiden Maricle (16:47), Dax Ritchie (17:00), Dylan Grzywinski (17:16), Thomas Hayes (17:16), John Lensmeyer (17:18), and Lukas Vetkoetter (17:22).  For the girls, the top performers were Rebekah Gould (20:19), Emma Thomas (20:55), Erica Gentry (21:29), Madelyn Schroeder (21:40), Kaydin Jo Hughes (21:44), Avery Alonso (22:30), and Claire Enright (22:35).

After the Caroll Dragon XC Classic, they ran in the UTA Invitational on September 10, placing 4th and 2nd.  The top performers for the boys were Lukas Vetkoetter (17:10), Aiden Maricle (17:19), Dax Ritchie (17:38), John Lensmeyer (17:47), Kaison Krembs (18:03), Thomas Hayes (18:18), and Trenton Hunter (18:32).  For the girls, the top performers were Rebekah Gould (20:48), Sophia Altieri (21:00), Emma Thomas (21:09), Isabella Wertz (21:21), Madelyn Schroeder (22:48), Grace Coghlan (22:53), and Claire Enright (22:59).

In the most recent meet on September 17th, the Lovejoy Fall Festival, they placed 15th and 14th.  The top performers for the boys were John Lensmeyer (16:59), Lukas Vetkoetter (17:04), Aiden Maricle (17:14), Dax Ritchie (17:14), Thomas Hayes (17:27), Dylan Grzywinski (17:42), and Kaison Krembs (17:49).  For the girls, the top performers were Rebekah Gould (20:27), Sophia Altieri (20:28), Ella Wertz (20:57), Emma Thomas (21:00), Madelyn Schroeder (22:05), Claire Enright (22:30), and Avery Alonso (22:47).

“I thought our team performed really well [in the Lovejoy Fall Festival], and the hills we have been doing in practice really paid off at this race,” varsity runner Madeline Schroeder said.

At the Lovejoy Fall Festival, they ran against schools all over Texas, including the best teams in the 5A and 6A divisions.

“We always try to go to the meets where there [are not only] the best 5A teams but also the best 6A teams to condition our runners [to run] fast [and run] out of their comfort zone.  [That way] when we get to district or make it to regionals or state, we are used to running that fast pace,” boys Coach Tidwell said.

During the summer, there were a lot of miles and early mornings to prepare the runners for running fast paces.

“It prepared me for knowing what was going to happen in the season, and it helped me get faster…[because] I [am now] conditioned to running [in] the heat,” top varsity runner Britain Chancellor said.

Chancellor and others have had to miss meets due to fall allergies, creating a challenge for the team. 

“Not only do [we] miss their fast time or their low score, but them just being around and [their] leadership is what [we] miss the most,” Tidwell said.

The next meet will be the Texas Milesplit Invitational on Saturday, September 24, at Southlakes Park in Denton and will be Chancellor’s first meet back after being sick.

“It’s a flatter course, so I’m going to take advantage of that and go out fast my first mile, like I usually do, and then try to hold that pace for longer and stick with people in the front,” Chancellor said.