This cross-country season has looked different for the Manitou Springs runners. Although fall sports have been underway for the better part of two months, the Mustangs have competed only once.
They ran at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede on Sept. 2 and are finally back in action this week, when they head to Emma Coburn’s Elk Run, hosted by Crested Butte.
The lack of competition isn’t due to a lack of available races. Rather, coach Andy Sherwood has intentionally implemented that.
“It’s pretty normal for top programs,” Sherwood said. “We utilize this time to train, to get healthy from illnesses and to align together as a team so we can take on that mentality that when we have those races, have those opportunities, we take them seriously and we run hard.”
The overall hope, as for all cross-country teams, is that the competitors are running at their peak speeds come October for regionals and state.
It’s a unique sell to the kids, that cross country is going to be 90 percent training and practice and just 10 percent competition through the course of the year. But this is a team that understands the end game and has bought into the plan.
“You’re spending more time thinking about yourself and how you can improve, rather than the results of a race,” Cody Wyman said. “We’re going to have a three-week gap between Cheyenne Mountain and Crested Butte, so I think a lot us are going to get some (personal records).”
A lot of Class 4A teams will be at the meet, but since it is hosted by a 2A school, only four runners will score for each team. Sherwood hopes the result is a Top 2 or 3 finish for the boys on the strength of Cody Kelley and Wyman’s finishes at Cheyenne Mountain.
He’s also excited to see what’s in store for the girls team.
“It’ll be their first race as a full team,” Sherwood said. “We hope to finish in the top 10.”
Ellen Lowe, Gaia Drotar and Anya Nelsestuen were the only Manitou runners to compete at Cheyenne Mountain, so they’ll provide the experience needed to take that top-10 finish while the training plan looks to give them the physical boost to get it done.