The Cross Country season has started and is now going to test athletes endurance and strength. On Aug. 25, there was a night meet held at Wilsonville High School where 31 Saxons participated, many of which were freshmen and sophomores. As a result of the night meet, South placed seventh place in the boys 3000 meter event for freshman, fourth place in the girls 3000 meter event and ninth place for the Girls 3000 meter event.

To prepare for the upcoming season the Cross Country team held their first official practice was on Aug. 14 and held most open practices [for those who want to participate twice a week on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. prior to the official practice. The team had a night meet on Friday, Aug. 25 and a preview meet on Wednesday, Aug. 30. On Sept. 9, there will be a Saxon invitational at Bush Pasture Park. Both the boys and girls placed fourth for the 5000 meter event on Aug. 30 Greater Valley Conference preview meet.

“Cross Country can hurt. There’s no denying that. But I keep coming back because the team is fantastic,” Cassie Gutterman-Johns ‘18, a member of the team, said.

The point system is based on the school with the least amount of points is in first place while the school with the most points is placed last. Since Cross Country is an individual sport, athletes will also be competing against their fellow classmates, but they still work together as a team overall. While they are racing to beat their opponents, they are also racing against their previous time to get a personal record as a means to improve along the way.

“We are all in it together, and at the end of the day we are really just running to beat ourselves.” Gutterman-Johns said.

Although everyone is competing against one another, there is still a sense of community among the team and everyone is working towards a common goal. To beat their best time and grow as athletes.