The girl’s cross country team of the 2017-2018 school year is working towards their goal of placing among the top three in the state championship. Coach Christopher Bowring remains confident that his current team can accomplish this goal.

“Coach set high goals this year of trying to place top three at states,” said senior Kacie Shifflett.

This year, the team consists of a mix of returning members as well as new runners, keeping the team growing while still familiar. According to Bowring, team members worked harder this summer than ever before and are ready for the challenges ahead of them.

To add to the extra work put in by the runners, the team’s and Bowring’s confidence are kept up by the ‘Cats’ home course.  Since no one course is the same as another, individual courses are a large part of cross country, and around the region, certain courses stand out.

“Ours. Our [course] is probably the toughest,” said Bowring.

Because RCHS has one of the toughest courses around, the ‘Cats are prepared for the many challenges they will face.

Although cross country is seen as an individual sport, Bowring believes that success depends on the team, rather than individuals. Still, some individuals are still able to stand out.

“Faerin Dick really stands out this year,” said Shifflett. “Mallory (Keeley) and Sarah (Torrence), our top two runners, have been sick and injured the past two races and she’s really risen to the occasion.”

Bowring made it clear that his team is just that, a team, with no individual put above the rest.

“The girls, a lot of the time, run in pairs,” said Bowring. “This always seems to help them, having somebody running next to them. It helps them push each other.”

Two of these recurring pairs are Faerin Dick and Kacie Shifflett, and Mallory Keeley and Sarah Torrence.

However, much of the possibility of success in cross country is left up to chance and how individuals and teams are physically, emotionally, and mentally feeling.

“If you’re feeling (unwell) it doesn’t matter what you do,” said Bowring.

Though luck may vary, the ‘Cats continue to prepare and compete to achieve their goal.