Cross country competed at the King’s Invitational on Oct 2. Kate Funderburk, 10, talks to Coach Shomo about her race strategy while warming up. Pacing is a necessary part of race strategy, ensuring that runners have energy at the end of the race.

Pre-race stretching is also a vital part of race preparation. Liza Fitzgerald, 11, stretches out another runner. This stretching helps prevent injury and makes it easier to run.

Winter track distance has to endure frigid weather while fall distance runners experience the opposite. With practices beginning in the summer cross country has to run through blazing hot temperatures. Only towards the end of the season do temperatures begin to drop. Photo by McDaniels Photography.

Jaslyn Davis-Johnson, 9, competes against a Milford runner. Her goal is to earn a personal record. During the first mile, runners must not go out too hard, or else they will pay at the finish.

At the finish, runners must start their “kick” around 800 meters before the finish. Kamaria Walton, 10, finishes the race in second place after Menyhert. She finished in a time of 19:52.

Rose Menyhert, leads the race in first place right after the two mile mark. High school runners compete in 3.1 mile races. Menyhert is the team’s most valuable runner.

Abigail Miller, 12, crosses the finish line after a difficult run. Runners must race against not only themselves at the finish but other competitors as well. “Passing someone at the end just gives you a rush of adrenaline,” Miller said.

Runners congratulate each other after the end of a race. Freshmen Kate Mcnamara-Marlsand and Lily Martinson finished within five seconds of each other. “We push each other,” Mcnamara-Marsland said.

After their hard work runners can celebrate their accomplishments. Coach Greg Pottebaum talks with Maria Beaucage, 12, after her race. “There’s no better feeling than earning a personal record,” Miller said. All photos courtesy of McDaniel’s photography.