Wildcat XC preview
Photo by Shari Harris
Cross Country runners are shown warming up at the start of practice.
By Shari Harris
Publisher
The Wildcat Cross Country runners are back and are ready for a great season. Three-day a week practices began July 8, and increased to five-days a week on August 19. By Thursday, September 12, the runners plan to be ready for their first meet at Willow Springs.
Seven boys and two girls comprise this year’s high school team, and eight boys and two girls will be running on the junior high team. In addition to their scheduled practices, some of the athletes also lift, run and work out on their own time.
Head Coach Kayla Lewis is in her third year coaching cross country and this is her first year in the lead role. Ashley Ingram will be her assistant coach.
Top performer Levi Stout returns for his senior season, intent on making it to State for his fourth time. Head Coach Kayla Lewis says he is better prepared currently than he was last year at this point. Seniors Titus Scavone and Logan Lane are also returning. Scavone is described as a team leader – the “hype man” who builds everyone up. Lane is drastically improved and wants to do well in his final season.
Also returning are sophomores Ethan Stout and Zach Liveoak, and freshman Jeffrey Alkire. Ethan Stout is very driven and a little sibling rivalry pushes him to match older brother Levi’s performances. Liveoak has improved his performance and Lewis is excited to see how he will progress this year. Alkire wants to win races, Lewis says of the freshman, whose races will increase from the junior high 1.5-2 mile races of last year to the high school level of 3.1 miles in the varsity race. It is an adjustment she feels he can accomplish.
Lewis has high expectations of all her athletes, and sees a lot of potential in them. She described them as very driven and added that they like to succeed. She feels the potential is there for a few State runners this season.
Thursday, October 10, the Licking Wildcat Invitational Cross Country meet will be held at the Cross Country Course at Deer Lick Park. This will be their only home meet of the season.
