The rapid pitter-patter of every athlete’s feet race with their shallow breathing shows what kind of start this year’s cross-country team is going to have.

Cross country starts the second day of the school year, there are no try-outs and anyone willing to show up for practice, cross country meets, and of course being ready to run, are welcome.

Last year the team didn’t qualify for the district meet, but the year before current senior Evan Ortiz made it to district.

This year he is driving his team to do better and he wants to beat his personal goals.

“I am very determined to making it to district this year, with a better time then my sophomore year, along with others,” Ortiz said.

“Even with new coaches this year the team is doing very well, especially since we have almost three times more runners,” sophomore Autumn Anderson said. “Their practices are a lot harder, we also have to hit the weight room every day before we go out to run.”

The coaches practice strategies are a lot different from last years and it’s directing the students to work harder and push themselves to their limits.

“I feel like we are doing well, there is a bigger number of runners this year and the kids are really working well,” cross-country coach Helena Martin said.

Most of these cross-country runners joined the team to get in shape for their sport seasons like soccer and basketball.

“I do cross country to prepare for our Lady Eagles basketball team, and I also love to feel the trails under my feet and wind in my pony tail,” Anderson said.

This past week the cross-country team has met up in the dance room near the gym to do insanity, to give the team an easy work out, but it most definitely gets a sweat going and is a great work out.

Insanity is a work out video that helps one to perform long bursts of maximum-intensity exercises with short periods of rest.

On Oct. 5th there was a cross-country meet held at Manor Sports Complex. Three cross-country runners, seniors Fredrick Barton, Ortiz, and freshman Caleb Calderon won medals for placing in the race.

“It is a lot of hard work but it is completely worth it and I am going to continue running cross-country for the rest of my high school years,” Anderson said. “I can not wait to see what we make, if we get into district, and I am going to work harder every year.”