Cross country, one of Etowah High School’s premier fall sports, is in the thick of its latest season. The teams this year have been some of the hardest working yet, with several of the best times recorded in the school’s history. From coaches to players, the teams are in tip-top shape; however, one factor has made this season more challenging: the weather.
“The season is good, but it is weird because we usually get a little bit of time where the weather is good for the running conditions, [and] it kind of jumped straight from being really hot to really cold, and that has been kind of rough,” Merilyn Bailey, junior, said.
Such a drastic change certainly impacts the players’ performance, especially if it is not what they were expecting. The players trained all summer in the beating heat just for the temperature to drop right before competitions began. Despite the odds being stacked against them, they still have done outstanding at each of their events. The cold may have even had some positive effects.
“[The cold] makes it harder to breathe, but it also is better to run in. There was no gap; it was straight from super hot to super cold. [It is] definitely hard on our bodies, but it is good because I am not dying from heat anymore,” Ari Havens, senior, said.
With the sharp icy wind piercing their skin, fatigue is not so commonly endured. Though there certainly are challenges, some prefer this over the ruthless summer heat. No matter the weather, Etowah’s cross country team is constantly improving, and their momentum is not stopping. No one knows that better than Garrett Hurlbert, their very own coach.
“We run all summer long and put in tons of work on the track once we get back to school to get in the best shape possible. The 2024 team is competitive, with multiple top 10 finishes in meets that often have over 30 schools competing,” Hurlbert said.
The Etowah Eagles school spirit has persevered through all trials and obstacles. These brand-new challenges have done nothing but harden the team into the best players they could be. Come see them at the State Championships held at Carrolton High School.
