As the years go on, it seems like our cross-country team continues to get better, with freshmen and sophomores setting the bar for what is to come. Of course, every season has to come to an end. In terms of cross country, this is when everyone is supposed to peak, meaning that everyone is running their fastest. Because of this, there is a high level of competition, and only those who are in the top 8 or 9 get to race. 

      Junior Evan Smith and Sophomore Rhett Moss proved to be the best runners this season. Junior Ashton Alder and Sophomore Braden Palmer also had amazing seasons. Both senior Hodge twins had great seasons, and Junior Micheala Kaelin and Sophomores Isabella Tran and Madelynn Sanger proved to be the top girls. The season wrapped up with the AIA Arkansas State XC Championship at Oaklawn Park Infield, Hot Springs, AR, Thursday, Nov. 2, and then the NXR South Regional Championships at Bear Ranch Park, The Woodlands, TX. Southside’s top nine boys and girls get to go to State, and only the top eight go to Regionals.

     Tyler Dobbins is one of our seniors this year. “[I’ve run cross country] for almost three years,” he said. “The most difficult part of the season is during the peak mileage of the season.” Many people don’t understand how difficult the sport really is; it isn’t as simple as running x miles and x amount of time. “I’d describe XC as a physically, but more mentally challenging sport that builds life-long discipline and hard-working habits,” said Dobbins.

     Caelynn Hodge is one of the two Hodge twins at Southside, and she closed things out with a great Senior year. “I have been running competitively for 6 years,” she said. “The hardest part of the season was mentally pushing past my limits of staying in my comfort zone in workouts.” For the top girls, peak mileage could be anywhere from 30-40 miles a week, which is physically taxing on the human body. “How I would describe XC is training all year to run 3.2 miles through grass, mud, dirt, and up hills,” said Hodge.

     Adelaide Coleman is one of our Juniors this year, and she also put up a good season. “I have been running competitively for a year and a half,” she said. “The hardest part of my season was when my spike fell off during a very hilly course and I got injured.” Spiked shoes help with traction, but losing a spike can make you fall, and getting spiked is even worse. “I would describe cross country as a hard but fun achievement as you finish each race and an amazing environment with amazing people,” said Coleman. 

State Results:

Boys Team at State:

Time          Grade Name Place Division

16:33.96  (Sophomore)  Rhett Moss 14th 6A Boys

16:44.19  (Junior)       Evan Smith 23rd 6A Boys

16:52.29  (Junior)     Ashton Alder 30th 6A Boys

17:08.86  (Sophomore) Braden Palmer 45th 6A Boys

17:17.77  (Sophomore)  Joe Griggs 53rd 6A Boys

18:21.45  (Junior)     Luke Paulus 93rd 6A Boys

18:27.36  (Junior)       Eli Kareus 97th 6A Boys

18:32.70  (Senior)     Tyler Dobbins 98th 6A Boys

18:44.22  (Junior) Angel Hernandez 104th 6A Boys

147 total boys in the 6A Boys. Boys team came 6th out of 17th. 

Girls Team at State:

Time         Garde       Name Place Division

20:17.85  (Senior) Caelynn Hodge 26th 6A Girls

21:39.03  (Junior) Michaela Kaelin 52nd 6A Girls

21:48.63  (Sophomore)  Isabella Tran 58th 6A Girls

22:27.73 (Sophomore) Madelynn Sanger 70th 6A Girls

23:22.26  (Sophomore) Abigail Harding 80th 6A Girls

24:42.36  (Sophomore)  Molly Rose 107th 6A Girls

25:05.01  (Junior)   Carlie Blevins 109th 6A Girls

26:57.45  (Sophomore) Caroline Chung 119th 6A Girls

127 total girls in the 6A Girls. Girls team came 10th out of 16th.