Cross Country teams step it up

Posted November 12, 2012 at 4:59 PM, Filed Under: Front Page, Sports, Village Mill

By Sarah Wilkinson
School Correspondent

With the winning records of 6-1 for the boys and 4-2 for the girls, Clover Hill High School cross country teams are fast approaching the season’s end.

Coach of the boys cross country team, Jim Wahrman, is pleased with the success of the team this year. “The one strategy that made everything successful was that the kids did summer training and they came into practice in better condition,” Wahrman said. “They put a lot of time into it and were very much committed to what they wanted to accomplish this year.”

Cross country runner and senior Jonathan Lee believes the team is strong. “The boys cross country team is very deep; we have a lot of team talent,” Lee said. “This year we’ve gotten a lot of help from our junior runners; a couple of our sophomore runners have stepped up, too.”

Coach of the girls cross country team, Kevin Carpenter, had hopes for a season finale trip to regional competition on November 3. “I hope that both girls and boys teams make it to regionals, and if we do make it to states, that would be very nice,” Carpenter said. “But right now, I’m hoping for regionals.”

Cross country runner and senior Nancy Sloan appreciates the work and expertise that the coaches have contributed to the team. “They have helped me become a better runner,” said Sloan. “I have a lot more endurance this year and I think I’m getting a better kick, which is awesome because that is really important at the end of a race.”

Coach Wahrman says the team has several reasons to be proud of their performances this season in addition to the girls third-place ranking and the boys second place ranking among district teams.

“Both teams have the opportunity to advance to regionals at the same time, and we haven’t accomplished that in awhile,” Wahrman said. “The effort that they put in, the training, the chemistry with the team is wonderful. It’s a great group of kids who like each other and that’s something you don’t find often.”