Sports
Crossville Chronicle Friday, March 27, 2015
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PREVIEW Jr. Cross Country League opened its ninth season The Cumberland County Junior Cross Country league opened the 2015 season March 18, but it took a mammoth effort of cooperation from the CTE Construction Classes at SMHS. Trees crossed the path with branches larger than our five-year-old runners. “We will get it ready. I just need to get back to school and we can do it!" said Damon Koehl, CTE teacher, who is entrusted with the task of setting up the course year after year. “I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart,” Mike Fanelli said. The
2015 season embodies the quote when it mentions “with your heart,” because that is exactly what it took to pull it off. The birth of the junior league cross country program began in 2007, with only 70 runners and three elementary schools. Those original schools were Homestead, Pleasant Hill and Stone. It was born from a dream of Pat and Damon Koehl and Laura and Louie DeLorenzo, who continue to operate the league. Laura coaches junior varsity at Pleasant Hill Elementary and Louie is the official starter of 90 percent of all of the races. Both DeLorenzo’s have given much time to the athletes in Cumberland County.
“We wanted children in the county to have the opportunity to run. They don’t even know if they like it if they aren’t given that opportunity.” Laura DeLorenzo and Pat Koehl’s dream was to open the program to any and every child. From kindergarten to eighth grade, all children may participate. “This junior league program gives them the experience to find out what running is all about. We’ve built, with the help of our coaches, two great feeder programs. It is obvious when you have both high schools’ boys and girls teams qualify for state year after year said Coordinator Pat Koehl, North Cum-
berland teacher and varsity coach, and former CCHS cross country coach. The original name of the league was CCHS Junior League and was later changed to Cumberland County Junior League after more elementary schools joined the program. The first year’s season was run in the fall of the year, but later changed to the spring because of conflicts with the high school cross country schedule. “By running in the springtime, we were able to avoid most of the other sports programs. More athletes were able to participate when they did not have to make a choice of their sport,” said Koehl. Today, there are con-
sistently 600 participants in nine public elementary schools, two private schools, and home school athletes. Coaches with assistants are in place at all schools. The original races were run at Martin Elementary, then moved to First Baptist Church of Crossville. Both places had their unique qualities. “There have been many great memories on both of those courses. Because of parking issues, the venue was changed and SMHS cordially offered their campus. It has been a great spectator course, as parents can see the runners at almost all points.” All timing is donated through the work of Vicki
and Frank Mackzum. Vicki Mackzum, teacher at South Cumberland, coordinates all preregistering, timing and dispensing of numbers. Vicki also does a league website with team and individual results. Frank Mackzum can been seen at all of the races writing numbers to add just one more timing backup. “The Mackzums are a team that graciously give time to our program. They travel across the United States timing major cycling events. What luck having them in our county," said Pat Koehl. "The Cumberland County Rescue Squad continues to offer valuable volunteer assistance with traffic, See JR., page 2C
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PINE VIEW CROSS COUNTRY — Team members are, not in order, Samantha Altum, Kaylee Davidson, Emily Griffis, Hannah Harbin, Cassie Letner, Bella Moore, Ebbie Baird, Cheyenne Hickey, Chloe Morris, Andreamia Parker, Orianna Altum, Skylar Lynn, Emma Newcome, Keegan Butler, Talon Nickence, Cayden Phillips, Tristyn Butler, Luke Honcoop, Jared Spicer, Aaron Crabtree, Layne Gill, Andy Headrick, Lucas Ingram, Jordan Ledbetter, Nate Nelson, Dennis Nickence, James Schillinger, Bryant Carter, L.J. Grayson, Ethan Lynn, Gabe Newcome, Kyle Trentham, Kaylee Parrent, Allison Seiber, Alyssa Berry, Ashley Ingram, Faith Robinette, Maidson Thompson, Brett Carter, Spencer Moore, Logan England, Jackson Godsey, Jeremy Lloyd and Cameron Madewell. The coach is Justin Gibson.
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