(ca/flickr)

The boys and girls cross country teams’ first meet of the season started with a bang, hosted at Centerville on Saturday, August 23rd. In the 5000-m. Giuseppe P. placed second, and Henry S. placed third. In the 5000 championship, Chris H. placed 31st, and Dane C. came in 64th out of 117 total runners. Senior runner Chris H. said, “This season feels different. Our team is experienced and ready for a big year”.

On the girls’ side, Claire C. competed in the 5000-meter run finals, securing an impressive 8th place for the Vikings.

The future of Academy cross country is looking bright for both squads. For the boys, Dane C. and Chris H. are two senior leaders poised to have dominant senior seasons. On the girls’ side, underclassman Claire C. fared well last year and is looking to break out this year. 

The Vikings squad looks especially strong this year and looks to make a push for states. This year, the rules for the postseason have changed for the better as the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) has broadened the chances to advance to districts, creating a larger pool of teams eligible to compete. This helps the Vikings, as their district chances were already strong before the season. This, coupled with a team of experienced and strong runners, makes the Vikes look like a favorite coming out of the Central Buckeye League.  

The teams’ next meet is the Vikings invitational on Saturday, September 20.