by Isabella Stewart

This year’s cross country season has started with a lot of teamwork, running, and introducing new team members who are running their hearts out on the cross country courses. 

First, with the arrival of  new athletic director A.J. Moye has helped support the team. He has helped build and support Jeff’s own cross country course. 

Moye has driven through the course, making sure it’s safe for others, and has also just put a lot of time into making the course everything it needs to be. 

Moye has shown up to regionals with the track team and has attended cross country practices, showing his love and support for this year’s cross country team. 

Moye said he believes the most important part of his job is ¨to believe in the titles and the important roles that everyone plays¨ on their respective teams. He said pours himself into the kids and coaches lives and makes sure they know their value. 

Two years ago, the cross country team only had one female athlete; last year, there were four, and that shows how much the cross country team has grown over the past year. 

Senior runner Keira Jackson has made many friends and as she´s finishing her senior year one of the biggest things she wants people to know is “no matter how deep you’re in, there’s always an escape.”

Jackson is currently striving to a 20-minute PR time. 

Jackson really speaks highly about how coach Sam Mull has supported the team every step of the way, just as Moye has talked about. 

Mull said he wants to “help improve each and every athlete on the team in their own ways.” 

The cross country team recently had a fundraiser, and they raised over $2,035 dollars for their whole team.

Sophomore runner Marcus Baker talked about how he went to 6-7 different neighborhoods going door to door to help out with the fundraiser as much as he could. 

The team has their first home meet Sept. 30 at their brand new cross country course.

This upcoming Thursday is XC Night at Bubba’s, in which a portion of purchases provides food, transportation, uniforms, awards, and gear for this year’s season.

Baker said,”We hope to see you there and Iḿ wishing this cross country season the best.”