When it comes to training for competitions and improving their skills, the varsity and JV cross country teams have been there, run that. While running doesn’t require a large amount of team numbers, the girls cross country team has observed a smaller number of team members as of this year. 

“We have enough to fill our varsity and JV, but just barely,” cross country assistant coach Abby Shultenhenrich said. 

Despite lacking a larger team, girls cross country feels that this has allowed the members to grow closer.

“I think it’s okay, I like it, because we’re all pretty close and we have good conversations while we run,” senior varsity girls cross country member Keeley Lauer said. 

Shultenrich has determined that this year the team will be focused on improving their skills and times in order to combat the smaller team size. 

“We have a couple of good girls, we just don’t have enough,” Shultenhenrich said. 

While the girls cross country team has fewer members, the boys cross country team’s numbers have flourished this year. 

“We’ve got a lot of boys, close to 30-40 boys,” senior varsity boys cross country member Nate Maples said. 

Boys cross country has seen a lot of success this year, however, the girl’s cross country team has shown that sometimes what a team really needs is togetherness and determination. There’s still so much time left in the cross country season, and the girls team have been looking forward to seeing their skills improve. In due time, it appears that the girls cross country team will have a long-distance relationship with victory. 

“I want to see if I get better or get better times,” Lauer said.