Manhattan High Cross Country has kicked off the season with a bang. Last Saturday the cross country team had their first meet at Warner Park. MHS runners really pushed themselves to work together as a team and finished with great scores.  

“I think we really work together by running with one another and pacing each other,” junior Clara Mayfield said. “I PR’d and I got first and girls varsity got first so we performed really well.”

Warner Park is a complicated course with many holes and hills in the way.

“It was difficult because Warner is a very hilly course and I had no one around to pace me so that was a challenge,” Mayfield said.

The course wasn’t the only challenge the runners had to face, there was good competition as well.

“Running with Blue Valley Southwest was difficult because they’re really fast and it was hard competition to beat,” senior Cooper Schroeder said. “Being a team captain, some runners look up to me to do good, so meets always put some pressure on me.”  

Varsity boys placed second overall and worked together as a team to do so.

“We try to always encourage one another and run together so we can place good scores and improve the team,” Schroeder said.

The first meet is only the beginning and they have a lot more work to put in throughout the season. MHS cross country has won seven straight league titles and are striving to get the eighth. Overall, MHS cross country used their teamwork skills and practice to succeed big time by winning first and second for both varsity teams. They hope to continue working and have a competitive season.

“I know that if we put in a lot of hard work and work to get even faster, varsity can win the next league title,” Mayfield said.