While many area teenagers spent one of their last Friday night’s before school started at the movies, shopping or cheering on their team in a final scrimmage, Clover Hill cross country runners hit the trails. The 20+ team members on hand Aug. 22 ran a combined 293 miles, covering roughly the distance from the school to New York City, all so that they can continue – and perhaps further – their cross country season.
The Clover Hill girls’ cross country team snuck up on the field and finished as district runners-up last fall. This year they look to continue that upward trend toward the regional and state meets with a few extra team members and some more practice.
“They didn’t really go to a lot of the meets and events [outside the area],” second-year head coach Brandon Miles said. “They just kind of stayed and went to the Wednesday meets, which are good district meets, but if you really want to build a good program … you have to take them to high quality invitationals.”
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have their sights sent on five Saturday invitational runs including a major trip to Titusville, Fla., in early October. The meets are sure to be great for the team, but with only one being run locally (the McDonald’s Cross Country Festival at Maymont), they’re also hard on the budget.
Cross country is a non-revenue sport, meaning the team doesn’t generate funds from ticket sales at their events, so travel expenses can add up fast for students and parents. That leaves the team trying to generate revenue in more creative ways – like doing what they already do best: running.
Read full story by Sara Page of Midlothian Exchange...
Remember to email your newspaper stories this cross country season to milestat@gmail.com