Girls’ Cross Country Full of Experienced Returners

As new people arrive and the new term begins, students also resume the intense and demanding training that goes along with many of Exeter’s sports. This fall, the girls’ cross country team is ready to train hard, long and fast and is looking forward to a successful season.With new captains, new runners and plenty of spirit and dedication, it would be hard for anyone to deny that the girls team is bound to do well this fall. "I think we are looking really good this season," senior Michaela Morris said. "We have a couple strong seniors: Elsa Chinburg and Olivia Pritchard. Last year, we had a strong prep class, so I'm excited to see how they will have developed as runners coming into their lower year. We only lost two seniors last year, so we have a strong core of returning athletes."Despite the small loss of seniors, those runners will be missed dearly by the team. "They were a great asset to the team," Morris said. "However, only two graduated, so I think we have a really strong core of returners who should be able to pick up right where the team last year left off."Aside from their actual training, the girls also will have a cheerful reunion with one another after a summer apart. "I am most excited to spend time with the team," Morris said. "PEAGXC is a really great group of girls. We all work really well together to push each other hard in workouts and races, which in turn inspires really strong friendships." This dedication to one another is part of what makes the girls XC team strong.The girls are returning to school fit and ready for their workouts, after a summer filled with grueling training and intense workouts. "There's a saying that goes something like, ‘Great cross country teams are made over the summer,’" lower Christine Hu said. "The captains Elsa and Clara [Hobbie] worked with Coach Coogan over the summer to make a training schedule that included a lot of miles, tempo runs, hill repeats and strength work." This kind of work ethic is vital in a sport like running, where mental toughness and perseverance are key.The girls and their coach have some high goals for the upcoming season. Morris spoke on the team’s drive to do well at Interschols. "I think one major goal for our team is top five in Interschols. Last year, we came in 8th, and the year before that, we came in 13th, so there's a pretty steady progression. I think it would be great if we could drop three places from last year and move into the top five."Hu agreed with this sentiment, expressing her excitement at the prospect of such a successful season. "We had a very young team last season, and now we have a chance to build off of that and place better at Interschols this year."All in all, girls’ cross country is off to a great start and hopes to continue the progress that the cross country teams of the past have begun.