WEST UNION CROSS COUNTRY Photo courtesy of Angela Churchill
2020 West Union Eagles Cross Country: Front row left - Aiden James, Emma Carwyle, Anna Carwyle, Kate Bennett, Ella Little. Back row left - David Roberts, Wyatt Swearingen, Jon Bennett, Adam Galloway, Sammy Green, Max Smithey, Cooper Crawley, Solomon Cooper, Brodie Moore, Edwin Edwards. Not pictured Joe Quay (Hammer) Willard.
Eagles have passion to run and compete
W
est Union’s cross country team will be under the guidance of first year coach Angelia Churchill this season. However, Churchill is no stranger to running as she has been involved on a personal basis for many years. “This is my first year as a coach, but I have been a runner since 2005 and my passion for these athletes runs deep,” Churchill said. Churchill has some returning runners coming back from 2019 as well as some young runners that competed in junior high last season with success. “The 2020 West Union Cross Country Team is a blend of veterans and youth,” Churchill said. “Our team is showing stride this year! It is hard to predict what the final outcomes will be, and my main focus is keeping
them safe and well! “Our athletes that ranked last year are definitely ready for XC 2020 such as J.Q. Willard, Ella Little, Emma and Anna Carwyle, and Max Smithey. Underclassmen that are fierce newcomers are Trey Haynes, Brodie Moore and Aiden James.” Churchill will have her runners competing at various meets in the season, but the Eagles have a couple of races circled on the calendar as important contests. “The key meets that we at West Union look forward to in 2020 will be the Myrtle Invitational and Saltillo Invitational,” she said. “The primary strength for West Union is passion for the sport. Our entire team loves what we do, therefore we do it well.” Churchill says she has had to address the coronavirus pandemic along with her team as it has brought
new challenges to the sport. “Both cross country meets and practices are being conducted quite differently this year due to COVID-19,” she said. “Athletes must always follow social distancing during practice. As well, foggers are used to sanitize equipment between uses. Safety for our students always comes first. “Meets will spread out the time frames for various schools with results only being sent to coaches via email after the meet closes. All athletes, coaches, and fans will be required to wear mask on the sidelines. Our students remain thrilled that we will have a cross country season and that MHSAA has approved competition with guidelines. As a coach, I am waiting to participate in meets that are in September and October and holding off on August competitions.”
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