Positive attitude drives local cross country runners

The Springfield-Cedar Mountain Cross Country Team began practice Monday, August 17.  After the Minnesota State High School League announced earlier in the month that high school cross country and tennis would be allowed to compete this fall during the pandemic, plans shaped up for the new cross country season.  They have been hard at work practicing in the August sweltering heat.

Head Coach Luke Amsden and Assistant Coach Brittany Portner have been working with the team in anticipation of their first meet at Springfield on September 3.  The team this year is very young and inexperienced and a few runners are battling early season injuries.  Coach Amsden commented, “We have quite a few newcomers to the team.  I could see a few of them stepping in and having an impact.  We also have a nice mix of returning runners with quality varsity experience.”

Returning letter winners include eighth graders Emmie McCone, Marissa Pabst and Lucas Hensch, ninth graders Ben Potter and Noah Vogel, eleventh graders Lilly McCone, Violet Hovland, Carter Hillesheim, Matthew Hillesheim, James Coffland, Zack Hensch and Nick Peterson and twelfth grader Helen O’Callaghan.  The junior and senior team members are the team captains this year.

See complete story in this week's issue of the Springfield Advance-Press.