With the majority of the season already behind them, boys Cross Country will be heading to GACs Oct. 14. With a smaller Varsity team than past years, the team has been working with more focus toward qualifying an individual runner for the GAC competitions before the exhibition at McNair Park that FHN will be hosting.

“The big goal is always Districts, Sectionals and State,” coach Sean Fowler said. “As we get closer to GACs, District and State, we focus on speed work to lower [the runners’] times.”

The team has been working on endurance, strength,distances, and times to prepare the runners for GACs which is the qualifying meet for more prestigious events.

“[Coach Fowler] does more difficult workout and I feel he focuses more on the individual rather than the whole team,” senior Gus Thies said. “The individual focus is better because other sports focus on the whole team winning. In running since it’s more individual, it helps [you] grow to become better with yourself.”

So far, the runners have been doing well due to the more individual training and have plans to do well in the upcoming meets.

“One of my goals is to be under 18 minutes, which is a fairly good for a Varsity boy,” senior runner Craig Preuss said. “We’ve had a lot of hard work and the coach has been helping prepare us.”

Sam Dulaney