Five months after fall sports were set to start, they are finally getting started. One team in particular that has faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is RCHS’s Cross Country team. The team started practice just recently, in February, with several new students joining along with the normal team. Despite the challenges, the team is forming bonds and a strong sense of community. 

Senior captain Kyle Kendall is in his fourth and final season of cross country and has been impressed with how the team has handled the season this year. 

“It’s really cool to see the resiliency and commitment of the runners and coaches as we have adapted to new conditions and have found ways to approach the sport and the team with the same enthusiasm and sense of community as we have in years past,” said Kendall.

The team is following strict COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all the runners this year. They are adapting to rules from RCHS administrators and competing teams. 

“When running, we are allowed to take our masks off while keeping a good distance between us and others,” said sophomore Abby Hickman. “Other schools have slightly different rules, so during meets we will follow their rules, in addition to ours.”

“We wear masks when we are taking breaks and resting,” said senior Molly Hellwig on rules this year. 

The season has been cut down to ensure all sports get playing time this year. Nevertheless, the team has many opportunities to showcase their skills during the shortened season.  

“We have five meets and then we will have our district meet,” said Hickman discussing the smaller schedule. “Our first meet is March 5.”

“We’ve had close to two months to prepare, and we’re really excited to see how we perform,” said Kendall. 

Another aspect of the season is balancing school and sports at the same time. 

“Juggling coursework and athletics is difficult as it always is, but being a student-athlete is an extremely rewarding experience,” said Kendall. “The courses and the athletics aspects are less fluid this year, but it is not a major burden.”

Other students have figured out how to balance complete virtual school with cross country. 

  After over half a year of virtual school, “I do not find it difficult because if I work the whole day with some breaks, I finish with enough time before XC,” said Hellwig. 

“Being virtual is easier to balance sports than when I was in person. The virtual setting allows for much more flexibility,” said Hickman. 

Student-athletes have faced challenges and hit bumps in the road this year, but the cross country team is proving that despite whatever you face, you can make the best of your situation. Their first meet of the season was on March 3 with the boys’ team coming in first and the girls’ getting second.