EAST UNION CROSS COUNTRY
Dennis Clayton | Gazette Sports Editor
2020 East Union Urchins Cross Country: Front row left - Daisy Johnson, Briley Lesley, Sunshine Fulgham, Dakota Gentry, Maci Rae McLellen, Avery Easterling, Ella Johnson, Ada Gentry, Rachel Gentry. Second row left - Jeremy Rakestraw, Karley Conwill, Annalise Bailey, Noah Johnson. back row left - Keith Goolsby, John Evins, Chance McLellen, Brandon Goolsby, Kole Jackson, David Comans, Gabe Rakestraw, Seth Johnson, Damion Jordan.
Urchins need to produce early for success
E
ast Union cross country will have a bit of a blend of youth and experience for the fall 2020 season. Coach Nathan McLellen enters his 16th season at the helm of the Urchins, but he’s never quite faced anything like this year with the coronavirus situation. “We have worked really hard to keep our kids safe,” McLellen said. “We checked temps and checked for symptoms before practice, required them to bring their own water and give them the practice plan ahead of time so we would not have to gather as a group at practice.” “Both teams are a mix of youth and experienced runners and we need both groups to produce early for us to be successful.” East Union does have the luxury of two returning All-State performers in Class 2A from 2019 in Karley Conwill and Noah Johnson. “Noah Johnson and Karley Conwill
34 2020 Fall Sports Preview
are both coming off All-State, AllDivision, and All-County seasons and we are excited to have them back this year,” McLellen said. The Urchins will have several experienced runners returning with Johnson and Conwill, McLellen will be relying on several runners to set a standard for the younger group. “Kirsten Hitt, Karley Conwill, and Sunshine Fulgham are great at leading by example because of the effort they put into practice while Rachel Gentry and Sunshine Fulgham are strong vocal leaders,” McLellen said. “The guys are led by Gabe Rakestraw. His effort and dedication to the sport is special. He leads by example so well it is hard for the other guys to take a day off. Chance McLellen has stepped up and is becoming a vocal leader for our team.” East Union will have several newcomers that are expected to contribute to the team’s overall success and McLellen is anxious to
see how they perform. “Seth Johnson, Daisy Johnson, Maci McLellen, and Dakota Gentry have both had great summers and we hope they can help our varsity squads by the end of the year,” McLellen said. Despite the mix of youth and experienced runners, the Urchins are a team built on unity and their coach sees that as a great strength going forward. “We are really strong in team unity,” McLellen said. “Our kids really enjoy each other. It is not really a weakness because I believe in our youth. They have what it takes to be successful.” East Union is looking forward to the Watson Classic meet in Clinton as their most important event since it will give them a first hand look at the redesigned course that they will compete on at the 2A state competition in November.
