Armuchee High School’s boys cross country team started the 2023 season with high expectations. Coming off of back-to-back state championships, the runners were highly anticipated to defend their title. The cross country coach, Scott Pierce, said “Runners who worked hard this summer are starting to see the benefits that work, and the newer less experienced runners are working very hard and improving really quickly. I have high expectations for both the boys and girls teams.”
The team went through many challenges all together but also individually. Josie Harris, freshman, said, “I struggled mentally with pushing through hardships but when you keep going and tell yourself you can do it you can overcome it.” These trials are something that the cross country team had to face. The team were already facing setbacks.Such as injuries and problems with staying healthy. One thing all the runners have in common is their passion to complete their goals. Ben Owens, junior, had the school record for fastest individual time and looks to surpass this record in the future. Owens said “My goal is to break my own record of running the fastest individual time and breaking sixteen minutes.” Working towards the future and planning ahead senior, Isaac Agan said, “I’m trying to get college level times so I can compete competitively and get college scholarships.” With the overall goal: bringing home another state title.
The Armuchee’s cross country team has had chemistry between the teammates like no other. They have been through state championships together, tough practices, and even major setbacks which has made them have a stronger bond. Every runner has their challenges. Josie Harris, freshman, said she “I struggled mentally with pushing through hardships but when you keep going and tell yourself you can do it, you can overcome it.” Josie and all the other runners are trying their hardest at practice to push themselves to their limit.
All runners for Armuchee had high expectations, for this new season and for themselves. These athletes constantly pushed themselves putting them under constant pressure, with the upcoming races; times awaited to be met and records to be broken. The team average time is in reach and with the varsity being as deep as last year, leads the opportunity to break the average team time records. Even after the team’s outstanding seasons, they were still considered underdogs. Mannu Singh, sophomore, said “When the boys won their second state title at the carrollton state meet even when they were the underdogs.” Through the high expectations of the team, they were still loving, caring, and determined to defend their state title yet again.
