Members of the Olds High School cross-country running team were practising last week in preparation for the first meet of the season on Sept. 18 in Sundre.
The team consists of roughly 15 students in grades 9 to 12, many of who are returning athletes from last season. Many newcomers, such as Leif Aitken, were on the Ecole Deer Meadow School running team. All are looking to improve on last year's results.
“For counties, I want to get first this year. I got second last year, and for zones I want to get top 15,” Aitken said. “I just want to push myself and do really good.”
For Anushree Patel, her objective is to do the best she can at the provincial competition in Drayon Valley on Oct. 19. She's been running since Grade 8 and is hoping to improve over previous years' performances. She hopes to get below 20 minutes at the four-kilometre distance.
“I just want to do really well and get a good spot in provincials because it is a tough competition,” said the Grade 11 student.
Training will be key for Janelle Graham, a Grade 10 student on the team.
“It's a lot more serious than it used to be. I definitely want to get first in counties and zones like I did last year and I'm going for top 15 at provincials,” she said.
Maggie Robblee, one of the team's co-coaches, said she is encouraged to see a few more athletes out this year than in 2012.
Although the season is short, Robblee said most of the runners are running all year round so it doesn't take long for them to round into shape. During practice, the objective is building endurance and assisting them to get better.
“We're just trying to show them how to build endurance. Most of them love running and we're just trying to see where they're at so we can get an understanding of how to help them more,” she said, adding she also hopes the students stay injury-free.
Robblee said the coaches would like to see the runners attend both practices (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) as well as practising on their own every week. She said for her, the most important thing for the students is that they enjoy running and keep doing it even after the season is over.
Other meets this season are Sept. 25 in Sundre and the zone competition in Canmore on Oct. 9.
