Written by Wolf Point Herald Wednesday, 29 August 2012 09:11
The Wolf Point High School cross country team has its shoes laced up and is ready to run through another season. Coach John Stoll has been working with the group of about 20 students to get them in prime shape after the several months taken off for summer.
The team members are specifically directed to maintain their health and physical shape over the break, but Stoll has used the last few weeks to ensure the runners will be up to par.
“The first thing we need to do is build up that base. The first week we weren’t doing any speed work, we just tried to gradually build up the distance,” Stoll said.
Distance is an understatement. Stoll said on distance days, the team members will run anywhere from six to 10 miles simply for practice.
The strenuous activity requires extensive stretching and warm-ups in order to prevent injuries. Stoll said the most common injury was damage to the knees and, although one of his varsity members was currently working through runner’s knee, he had high hopes they would be ready to compete at their second meet.
Injuries only make up a small part of the sport’s difficulty. Cross xountry is a feat comprised of physical and mental determination. Stoll said he believes you had to be a certain type of person to enjoy cross country and to have the intrinsic motivation to compete. He also believes his team members possessed that type of motivation and it would translate into success this season.
Stoll thought the team this season would not only be internally motivated, but talented in several other aspects of running.
“Pacing is one thing I think we’re a little better at. We really stress that, trying to get them to run at an even-pace. We’ve set some goals as far as times,” Stoll said.
These skills will help the team bounce back from the loss of last year’s seniors, who included Dakota Robinson. Stoll considered Robinson to have been the team leader for the last four years, but said other varsity members would step up and fill in the gaps. He said they were working hard to get everyone’s times down in order to qualify for state.
Competing for individual times rather than a collective achievement makes cross country unique. Stoll explained how the runners balance such a solitary endeavor coupled with the camaraderie of a team.
“I think maybe because we’re a smaller team, the kids do build some real friendships,” Stoll said.
Those relationships on and off the running path combined with serious motivation and endurance will keep the Wolves in step this season and poised for success.
The Wolf Point cross country team opened its season at the Spring Lake Invitational in Williston, N.D., on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The girls’ varsity squad came in third in a 3K run with a score of 86, the junior high boys’ team came in third as well in the 3K with a score of 57 and the junior high girls came in first in their 3K with a score of 20.
Individually for the 3K race in the elementary bracket, Larissa Dale finished with a time of 14:30, Paisley Ferdina, 15:46; Caleb Blount, 21:39; Journey Erickson, 16:33; Jerek Summers, 22:49; James Poitra, 16:19; Cyreena Standing, 15:10; and Alexandra Sutton, 20:18.
Marissa Irizarry finished in 14:17 for the girls’ varsity team.
For the junior high, Jeremiah Paine completed his run in 13:30; Sierra Summers, 12:51; and Gillian Medicine Cloud, 22:14.
Their next meet is Sept. 4 against Glendive.
The team members are specifically directed to maintain their health and physical shape over the break, but Stoll has used the last few weeks to ensure the runners will be up to par.
“The first thing we need to do is build up that base. The first week we weren’t doing any speed work, we just tried to gradually build up the distance,” Stoll said.
Distance is an understatement. Stoll said on distance days, the team members will run anywhere from six to 10 miles simply for practice.
The strenuous activity requires extensive stretching and warm-ups in order to prevent injuries. Stoll said the most common injury was damage to the knees and, although one of his varsity members was currently working through runner’s knee, he had high hopes they would be ready to compete at their second meet.
Injuries only make up a small part of the sport’s difficulty. Cross xountry is a feat comprised of physical and mental determination. Stoll said he believes you had to be a certain type of person to enjoy cross country and to have the intrinsic motivation to compete. He also believes his team members possessed that type of motivation and it would translate into success this season.
Stoll thought the team this season would not only be internally motivated, but talented in several other aspects of running.
“Pacing is one thing I think we’re a little better at. We really stress that, trying to get them to run at an even-pace. We’ve set some goals as far as times,” Stoll said.
These skills will help the team bounce back from the loss of last year’s seniors, who included Dakota Robinson. Stoll considered Robinson to have been the team leader for the last four years, but said other varsity members would step up and fill in the gaps. He said they were working hard to get everyone’s times down in order to qualify for state.
Competing for individual times rather than a collective achievement makes cross country unique. Stoll explained how the runners balance such a solitary endeavor coupled with the camaraderie of a team.
“I think maybe because we’re a smaller team, the kids do build some real friendships,” Stoll said.
Those relationships on and off the running path combined with serious motivation and endurance will keep the Wolves in step this season and poised for success.
The Wolf Point cross country team opened its season at the Spring Lake Invitational in Williston, N.D., on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The girls’ varsity squad came in third in a 3K run with a score of 86, the junior high boys’ team came in third as well in the 3K with a score of 57 and the junior high girls came in first in their 3K with a score of 20.
Individually for the 3K race in the elementary bracket, Larissa Dale finished with a time of 14:30, Paisley Ferdina, 15:46; Caleb Blount, 21:39; Journey Erickson, 16:33; Jerek Summers, 22:49; James Poitra, 16:19; Cyreena Standing, 15:10; and Alexandra Sutton, 20:18.
Marissa Irizarry finished in 14:17 for the girls’ varsity team.
For the junior high, Jeremiah Paine completed his run in 13:30; Sierra Summers, 12:51; and Gillian Medicine Cloud, 22:14.
Their next meet is Sept. 4 against Glendive.
Written by Devon Boen Wednesday, 29 August 2012 09:09
Nothing quite compares to the kinetic energy that comes with a Friday night high school football game in small-town America. The sport is a classic pastime that has the ability to close divides and have an entire community rallying behind one singular cause.
