Cross Country is a sport about endurance, but within every mile, you see community and love between each runner. This type of bond comes once in a lifetime, and for the runners, they will always meet the finish line.

  

   Head Coach Laura Brown notes that Cross County is a lasting team experience.  “Once you become part of the team you’re just part of the team until you graduate because there’s no quitting,” Brown said.

    

   Relationships are formed along the rough terrain and wilderness pathways the teams practice along in and about Cedar Bluff.  Those bonds continue to strengthen as the seasons pass.

    

   “The bond they have is awesome,” Coach Jessica Walker explained.  “I think that other teams we compete against see that.”

    

     From seventh through twelfth, the bonds created are unique and special to all that are involved.  For seniors, this season takes on a whole new meaning.

    

    “I have grown very close to the team and very sad that it will end soon,” said Logan Hall, reflecting upon the sport as a senior.  

 

     Logan, along with Jack Stallings, Jack Horton, Camron McDaniel, Manuel Lugo,and Hunter McMullen, make up the dynamic group of seniors leading the boys’ team this year. 

 

    “I hope we have left an influence,” Jack Stallings commented as he reminisced about being a part of Cross Country. 

 

    Aside from training days, one can often find these two running in the dusky evening along the side roads and thorough-fares about Cedar Bluff. 

 

   Multi-sport senior athlete Juliane Willson began her Cross Country journey in 7th grade with the influence of Coach Talbot, who was the first Cedar Bluff Cross Country coach. She runs when free from conflict with a relentless volleyball schedule.

 

   Juliane shares that, since her time running, she is “thankful for the bonds that the team has made.”   Wilson has continuously expressed her gratitude and inspiration for the sport. 

 

   “Really, I just hope that the bonds continue to grow with new team members. Cross Country is different from the other sports I play-- the bonds are different.” According to Julianne, these are bonds everyone needs in life. 

 

   “I did not like the situation at my old school,”  Manuel Lugo, MJ, commented. “When I moved to Cedar Bluff, I joined the Cross Country team and immediately found an open-arms community.”  Having such a group of people one’s life is crucial to not only Manuel but also all the runners. “It’s a family. I found friends through Cross Country.”  

 

    The runners encourage, help, and challenge one another.

               

    Record holder Camron McDaniel expressed his love for the sport throughout his tenure, especially noting how the coaches inspire the runners. “Ms.Brown and all the coaches that coach Cross Country motivate us and are some of the best coaches Cedar Bluff has,” Camron  shared. “I want future generations to be able to win state.” 

 

    Senior  Hunter McMullen added the holistic goal of this years boys’ team. “I wish to be the first guys team to make it to state,” Hunter declared.  While the girls have made it many times as a team, the boys are searching for their first inaugural appearance together at Moutlon’s state run.  McMullen continuously expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to run.

  

    Hunter and Camron agree that they would not trade the experience for the world. 

 

    Senior Jack Horton, who has set a personal goal of under 20 minutes for this year, began running in 10th grade.  “I was looking for something to do in the fall. I saw some of my friends on the team, so I signed up,” Jack Horton said.  “After the first practice, though, I thought we were all crazy.” However, Jack, too, witnessed the intrinsic value of the sport to the team members.  

 

    Nearly all of the team members recognize the invaluable service of the coaches.  “Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Walker, and Coach Bob have had a tremendous effect upon my life,”  added Jack Horton.  

 

    Since taking over the lead in Cross Country, Coach Brown, along with Coach Bob Pickerel and Coach Jessica Walker, have elevated the program.  Coach Walker, like Coach Brown, run alongside the team members, encouraging them. “I tell them to never give up,” Coach Walker said. Coach Bob has been invaluable as a resource and wealth of running experience as he orchestrates the practice schedules for maximum effect. 

 

   “This group of seniors have been with me pretty much the whole time that I’ve been coaching so it is going to be hard to see them go, practice next year and meets won’t be the same without them, but I do still have Emma.”  Emma Bishop is a junior that has been running since the seventh grade.

 

    Coach Brown has high expectations for both girls and boys teams this season.  She shared how the runners have progressed from year to year, improving in every aspect of the sport.  Along with the veterans, there are many newcomers to the teams. “We have all intentions of both teams making it to state.”

 

   While this is the goal of the teams for the season, the goal of Cross Country is much more than a single event on a crisp November morning.  On the contrary, Cross Country is about life.

 

    Ms. Brown encourages her seniors to “keep running, for this is a lifelong thing that is good for your health and good for your sanity.”

 

    Keep Running, Cross Country.