Girls Cross Country

Getting back on course

Girls cross country team reestablishes bonds with each other

Andrew Haughey haughand000@hsestudents.org

When the world shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the implications were not yet clear. Students were told they would be back in school in two to three weeks and not to worry. But that goal came and passed as students remained out of school. Spring sports were canceled by IHSAA and students on 1 all teams were forced to adapt to maintain their training regiments. For the girls cross country team, being forced to run outside of a team setting proved difficult for many due to the lack of team motivation. Now that the team is back together at school and practices, runners believe the atmosphere is getting closer to where it used to be. “COVID changed cross country a lot,” senior Vera Schafer said. Spectators weren’t allowed at meets, it wasn’t as fun and the sport wasn’t as enjoyable because we didn’t get the full experience. This year, everything is starting to open back up, and all we have to do is wear our masks, which isn’t a big deal. It’s a lot more fun, and I’m loving it.” Although the team is back to competing, the initial blow of COVID canceled the spring track season many girls participated in, damaging many runners’ incentive to keep training consistently. “At the time, our 4x800 was ranked first in the state,” Schafer said. “It was a major blow to our mental health and our selfesteem in the sense that we were losing our seniors that year and wouldn’t be able to finish out the season the way we usually do.” In spite of the events being canceled early in 2020, the team is still facing COVID guidelines a year and a half later, such as a mask mandate. Head coach Andrew Belloli said this was one of the biggest unforeseen issues still plaguing the team. “The rules and restrictions have changed a lot over the past year,” Belloli said. “It is 2 always an adjustment when there is a change in the guidelines.” While the pandemic lingers on, Belloli remains thankful for the close

bond the team has worked to build this year. “Being back together at school and practices has been motivating for the girls and has helped them have a better sense of community within the team,” Belloli said. “Even though it is not exactly the same as preCOVID, things are a lot closer to normal this year than they were last year.” Junior Ana Foutty accredits the little things, such as pasta dinners, that the team missed out on last year as being the main reason the team is so close now. “I definitely gained motivation,” Foutty said. “Having a closer team relationship allows us to push each other a lot more. We all work to get better for the team.” This newfound motivation has allowed runners to achieve the goals they set for themselves before the pandemic started. “I started running - for the first time - track my freshman year, so my goal was to 1. Juniors Brooke Butts and be able to finish a Nithya Murthy run together at run,” Foutty said. the sectional meet at Pendleton “Being able to be Heights High School on Oct. 9. a varsity athlete Butts and Murthy would finish my first season of 20th and 16th, respectfully. 2. running and being Freshman Corinne McClanahan able to continue rounds a post at the sectional it out my second meeet at Pendleton Heights year of running is High School on Oct. 9. more than I ever McClanahan would finish 24th. thought I would Photos by Andrew Haughey. do.”