Cross Country
US Cross Country
Back from a leisurely summer in Europe, sleeping until noon and eating well; we decide that Cross-Country might be a good way to get back in shape. It’s August and the Mercury is pushing 100C+ and we are running on the hilly back roads of Buckhead. Coach Marano is alternating between stories of his 80-mile bicycle ride that morning and reminding us of how out of shape we are. We try to walk up the hills but he reminds us that there is no walking in Cross Country. Little by little we get stronger and faster as the weather cools. On a misty cool training run we drop Coach Marano at the bottom of the hill and we know we made the right choice. Cross-Country is a great sport and it is good conditioning for AIS Winter and Spring Sports. Come join us at the regional meet at Our Lady of Mercy on Saturday, November 3rd
The team: Siri Belton, Mariette Marano, Ariana Fabian, Claire Colberg, Robin Kuik, Lindsey Sanborn, TC Winter, Tobias Geiger, Conner Zendt, Charlie Geddes, Will Silva, Saxon Bartsch, Oliver Flautt,and Akeil Cange. Coaches: Fred Marano and John McCusker.
By US Coach Fred Marano
MS Cross Country
The 2007 Middle School X-country season is quickly drawing to an end. From the early training sessions back in mid-August, running in the heat and humidity, the MS team will finish the season with two top level meets. The Paideia Python Meet on Sat. Oct 27th and the Atlanta Region 5 Championship meet on Nov. 3rd.
The MS x-country team has trained extremely hard, with each team member showing a marked improvement in competitions. The MS Girls Team was lead by Gr. 8 Orly Brooker and Marie Lindheim, both turning in winning performances in past weeks. Orly has finished 1st in both the AIS and St. Francis Invitational and Marie finished 1st in the St. Francis 2 mile run. Close behind has been Shea Johnson and Anais de Potesta (Gr. 7) battling each other in both training sessions and competition. The top result for Shea and Anais was at the Aubrae Gunderson Invitational, a State wide competition and a 13th and 15th finish respectively. The MS Girls team is rounded out with a solid Gr. 6 group- Lydia Katrin, Caroline Hutchison, Margot Dehem and Neeki Memar. Emily Knutson (Gr. 8) has also trained with the MS Girls team, yet has had to deal with injury over the season.
The MS Boys team has been led by Alexander Thomas (Gr. 8); Alex has consistently improved over the season, finishing and impressive 6th place finish in the State Wide Aubrae Gunderson Invitational and 4th place in the St. Francis Invitational running as a Varsity member. Dual sport athlete Giles Geddes (Gr. 8) has turned in impressive results with a strong 13th place at the Aubrae Gunderson and a 13th place finish at the AIS Invitational running as a Varsity member. Darius Scott (Gr. 8, also a dual sport athlete) and Niklas Dorsch (Gr. 7) have both contributed greatly to the team. Most recently, Darius and Niklas running as Varsity members, helped the AIS team finish 1st at the AIS Invitational. Raja Khuri (Gr. 6) best race of the season was a 9min 16sec- 1mile run at Garden Hills Run. Mid season, Raja had to deal with a leg injury which has limited his ability to race.
I wish to thank the MS x-country parents for their collective support in attending competitions, shuttling runners to practices and races, photos and treats!
By MS Coach Peter McKenney
