With an intersquad 5k race this week, the cross country team is doing its best to have a season this fall, while still abiding by the new protocols. 

Fourth year cross country runner, Emily Carr ‘21, went into detail about the guidelines in place. Some of the new ways the team is keeping safe include getting their temperature check before practice, turning in a form daily that permits them to attend, and wearing a mask for core and stretching.

Additionally, no athlete is allowed to share any supplies and must remain six feet apart as best they can.

“We don’t bring down water jugs.” Carr said.  The team also does not usually have a tryout, but that is just another way the season will be a little different this year.

Despite having to adjust to the virus, Carr is “just thankful that we can still run,” and has high hopes for the team this year. 

“Everyone’s just excited for when we can race in October,” said another member of the cross country team, Maggie Murphy ‘23.

When asked about how she felt about the upcoming season, Murphy paused for a minute. “It’s good that we get the chance to race, although it’s sad about coronavirus.”  She described the team’s mood as “upbeat,” which was refreshing after having to run and train alone most of this summer.

Another safety precaution taken by the cross country team was initially splitting up the girls into their cohorts for practice. “During preseason, the purple and gold groups came on different days. And now that tryouts have happened everyone is back together, socially distanced.” 

After winning AACA’s at Tyler Park last year and placing 13th at districts, the morale is high coming into the 2020 cross country season and the new restrictions are only a minor inconvenience for these athletes.