To most students in Manhattan High, the fall season means sipping on pumpkin spice lattes, watching scary movies, and cuddling up in a warm cozy bed. But to the cross country runners, the fall season means endless hours of hard work and dedication. Manhattan High is beginning its first week of practice and buckling up for the new season ahead of them.

“I think what I’m most excited for this season is all of the upcoming opportunities that will arise this season,” senior Dylan Higgins said. “As a senior, the pressure is turned up a lot more this year to do my best.”

Cross country takes more than just physically preparing, but mentally preparing as well.

“What helps me mentally prepare before a meet is taking time to visualize the course before I begin,” Higgins said.

For some runners this year, the first meet puts a lot of pressure on how the season will start off.

“The first meet definitely puts a lot of pressure on me,” junior Lydia Bowyer said, “especially because it has so many hills.”  

For junior McCade Bruce, dealing with knee problems and running hills is a difficult struggle.

“I have some knee problems that causes some hard struggles sometimes,” Bruce said. “It’s something I just have to push through and power on.”  

With all of these students hard work and dedication, they hope to power on to have a good season and accomplish exciting things