Vol 48 Iss 1 Oct 22 2019
Alutant Student Newspaper from Ellensburg High School. October 22nd 2019
Alutant Student Newspaper from Ellensburg High School. October 22nd 2019
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Alutant <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2019</strong><br />
7<br />
A Look Into the Heart of Ellensburg<br />
High School Cross Country<br />
Hannah Campbell<br />
A Staff Reporter<br />
Sports<br />
The Ellensburg High School<br />
Cross Country team is a group<br />
of determined and skilled young<br />
men and women striving for victory.<br />
Community, Commitment,<br />
and Character are the three C’s<br />
the cross country team train to<br />
pursue, whether it be through<br />
bonding with fellow teammates<br />
or running until your legs are<br />
ready to fall off.<br />
Through practicing both<br />
mentally and physically, these<br />
runners are determined to succeed<br />
this season.<br />
Running through difficult<br />
obstacles, up and down hills,<br />
and charging through seemingly<br />
endless courses are just some of<br />
the ways the team practices for<br />
the challenging season ahead.<br />
“We do run, a lot. Running is<br />
the best training for running.” Says<br />
Wyatt Mullings, a member of the<br />
school’s team.<br />
However, their training is not always<br />
physical.<br />
“Visualizing the race, knowing<br />
the purpose, and sweating the small<br />
stuff,” Mullings says, are also key<br />
components of the team’s mentality<br />
and is just as important as their<br />
physical training.<br />
To the members of cross country,<br />
the bond between teammates<br />
seems to be a crucial factor to the<br />
team’s success.<br />
“My favorite part of cross country<br />
is probably the team. The team is<br />
very cool and laid back,” says Curtis<br />
Smithgall, followed by Mullings,<br />
who responded, “Definitely the<br />
community.<br />
“The cross country team is the<br />
most wholesome team and they’re<br />
some of the nicest people I have<br />
ever met. They always support each<br />
other and always cheer people<br />
on.” Says Owen Mertel, who is<br />
a proud participant of the High<br />
School’s cross country team.<br />
To the members of this elite<br />
team, it seems like the season<br />
ahead could be a bright one.<br />
“Well a week from now<br />
we’re probably gonna be running.”<br />
says Mullings.<br />
When asked about their top<br />
goal for this season, both Mullings<br />
and Smithgall were quick<br />
to respond with “top five or top<br />
three”, which in their opinion, is<br />
achievable for their team.<br />
According to the Washington<br />
State Cross Country Coaches<br />
Association, Ellensburg has<br />
already been recognized in the<br />
top five in the coaches preseason<br />
poll.<br />
“We’re the best. Our team’s<br />
like a T-Rex.” boasts Mertel.
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