The Holy Trinity cross country team has had many successful seasons in the past and we expect nothing less from them this season. The runners have been training since summer at their two-week North Carolina program, and are continuing to practice every day. 

Preparation for a meet starts at the beginning of the week for our cross country team. They start off with a 6 am practice where they begin with stretches and a warm up lap, which is very important in order to avoid injury. Next, they get their heart rate up by doing “run outs” which are sprints across the football field. Then, for the rest of practice, they do long runs, where they average about a 6 mile run. Lastly, they finish with an ice bath to relieve their muscles. They also often do workouts after school and over the weekends do their long runs as a team. 

Outside of practices, runners prepare for their meets in their own way. “I prepare for upcoming meets throughout the week by hydrating and often doing ice baths after practice,” junior Grace Mooney said. “The night before I make sure to eat a good meal and get lots of sleep.” 

The team recently had their first meet at the Wickham Jamboree where the runners had to compete in harsh conditions, like puddles and a muddy trail. However, our runners still placed high, which just proves how promising their season is going to be. Especially for senior Anyiah Francis, who has started off the season strong with one of the top scores on her team of 5th place.

The runners also found their first meet very helpful, especially for new runners who have less experience and are learning how to manage their pace well in order to meet their personal goals for the season, because it allowed them to see their times at the beginning of the season. 

The Holy Trinity cross country team dedicates all their hard work to meet their goals for the season. “My goal for our cross country team this season is to finish in the top three or better,” Coach Marc Bailey said. “I hope for the girls to be in the top three and for the boys the ultimate goal is to win it, I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that. It will be a very difficult challenge, but that’s why we set goals.” He has a lot of faith in his team and knows they will do great things. 

As the cross country team prepares for the challenges ahead this season they will continue to work hard and accomplish their goals. They are dedicated to succeeding and we have no doubt that they will do so.