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Tuesday night was filled with much excitement as the Avonworth Cross Country team ran their last home race of the season, beating out both opposing teams. The team’s annual senior recognition took place after the race, followed by celebration with team members’ friends and family.
The team competed against Avella and Washington in their last non-section race of the 2016 season. Varsity runners who typically line up first at the start line stepped aside as seniors running their last race at their home course of Ohio Township Park took their place for one last chance to improve their times. The sky was overcast and temperature was cool, a climate that many avid runners constantly wish for. The race evidently went well, as both the boys and girls team claimed two victories apiece.
The race was mildly complicated by excavation and construction within the trails of OT Park, which left part of the cross country course considerably misshapen. Many runners were curious as to why the construction company hadn’t waited until the completion of the last home race to begin work. As a result, caution tape was put up to redirect runners on detour trails of the same length so that the race could go on. Coach Jason Smith addressed beforehand that whoever won the race “would be setting a new course record,” as parts of the old course on which records were previously set were now reduced to rubble.
After the completion of the boys and girls races, friends and family of Avonworth runners gathered under the pavilion as coach Smith addressed each of this year’s thirteen seniors. Smith and his assistant coach, Sherah Rothman, then handed out decorated mugs containing candy to each senior as Smith said a few words about each runner and their time on the team.
Runners and guests alike were then dismissed to help themselves to food supplied by runners’ families. “[The team] ran their final race really well ,” Rothman said after the event. “It was so exciting for me to sit down and look at all of the results and new times.” While the regular season is over for the team, they continue on to the Freedom Invitational next Wednesday and then on to prove their worth at the WPIAL championships on October 27th.
I didn’t realize that the course was so rough. It’s very interesting that it allowed for a new course record to be set.
Good luck to the runners going to WPIALs this year.
Nice job cross country
I ran cross country last year, and I never realized that the home course changed this year. I agree with the runners that the construction company should have waited until after the last home race.
This article is very touching as it describes the seniors last cross country race. It is nice to see the act of teamwork and friendship in the Cross Country team!
This article was very informative for me because I did not know a lot about what was happening with the cross country team. Thanks for the information!
such a great article! It was so great to read something that was so uplifting towards both the seniors and the cross country team as a whole.
I liked how the article showed the experience before, during, and after the race. The article really covered all aspects. I also liked how the writer was a part of the team, so we got to read the experience from someone who actually experienced.
This is perfect!! Although I might have tried to get a quote or two from the senior runners about how they felt about running their last race on the Avonworth track
Covered the Cross Country team’s achievements well.
Very well-written article to inform about the CC team towards someone who doesn’t know a lot about it. Good work.
Great information on the Cross Country team! Congrats to Anna Igims and Matt Cubelus