Not many students are prepared to wake up early on a Saturday morning to go for a run, and even less seem to enjoy that run. This is what makes the Manhattan High cross country runners special; they wake up early on Saturdays to go compete in a sport that they love — running.

The Manhattan team traveled to Junction City on Saturday to compete in the Junction City Invitational. The Manhattan teams had a very energetic performance as the teams swept the meet. Head Coach Susan Melgares was very proud of the team.

“It came down to lots of individual battles, and our kids won a bunch of them,” Melgares said. “It was especially impressive with a hilly final mile and an uphill finish.”

The girls team had seven finish in the top 20 and the boys team had six runners finish in the top 20.

“I’m very proud of the team, especially how well we did on all levels,” junior Cooper Schroeder said. “Our C team, J.V. and Varsity boys and girls all won their races. It shows that each level is striving to succeed and that the team has a very bright future.”

This Saturday the teams run at the Haskell Invitational in Lawrence.