rss
mobile
Feeds
The idea is to take the focus away from winning the early-season, mid-week races and instead to emphasize each runner's improvement over the course of the fall. Ideally, that improvement is based exclusively on times, not on where you place in a meet.
But for the group of competitive runners that make up the Seahawks' rosters, that's easier said than done.
"It's hard not to think about winning every time," said Sara Manesiotis, the top runner from the girls' team last season, "because (with other sports), you want to win each and every single game. But here, you just want to run your best in the last race."
Indeed, the measure of success each year comes down to just one race: the Class 3-A state championships, which take place Nov. 7 at Sandhill Research Park in Columbia this season.
The situation is an oddity when compared to other sports. Runners have an excuse to look ahead and simply use the regular-season events as checkpoints. Despite the state championships being three months away, the teams at Hilton Head High are already in the process of preparing for that season-ending meet.
"You train a lot harder during the summer. This is when you want to work hard," Manesiotis said. "... The camaraderie we have helps out a lot with that. We all push each other and motivate each other to keep going."
The Seahawks will have other motivation as well -- repeating last year's success. Each team ran the fastest times in school history a year ago. For the girls, it resulted in the Class 3-A state championship, while the boys won the Lower State championship and finished second overall in the state.
And with the bulk of the runners returning this season -- six of the top seven girls return, while the boys return four -- both teams are hopeful for even more improvement.
"I was really pleased with last year, but I know we can do better," said Jack Felix, who took second at the state meet last season. "There's only one spot to go from second, and I know we can get there."
Felix is quick to remind the rest of his teammates of that as well. Now a junior, Felix said he plans to take on more of a leadership role this season for the boys team.
"We try to keep talking about our potential every day to keep everyone aware of what we want to do," he said. "So I think everyone should know by now what that is."
BACK FOR MORE
The top Hilton Head High cross country performers returning from last season (place at 2008 Class 3-A state championship in parentheses):
Boys
Jack Felix (2)
Mackenzie Johnston (15)
Michael Brewer (29)
Jack Manesiotis (37)
Girls
Sara Manesiotis (4)
Faith Lifer (9)
Emily Crick (10)
Rosie Dungan (18)
Nikki Schoning (22)
Cayla Hennessey (57)
