It was three o’ clock in the afternoon the Monday before school started and the Clayton High School cross country team was gathering for its first official practice of the year. The upperclassmen watched the trickle of new faces appear anxious and excited for their first day of practice. As the crowd grew the amazement was palpable. Never before had the team been this big.

The normal few cliques of people had multiplied into an uncountable number of groups. When the coaches gathered everyone up, it seemed as though a trove of people had gathered to watch some famous person, there was pushing and shoving just to get to the front.

60 kids. And so far not one has quit, which is almost unheard of in the realm of running.

As a result, the varsity selection process will be much more rigorous this year, motivating kids to really try to reach their full potential, who otherwise in the past might have been on varsity simply to fill a spot.

During the Big River Running Festival, which took place at Forest Park on September 14, there was a lot more competition, as well as choices, for who could run varsity. The girls’ team scored second place for varsity in their division, and the boys’ team pulled through with a good race as well. With the number of good runners this year, the team can now be more flexible as it attempts to reach its full potential.

With this new selection of runners among with the veteran runners, the team is projected to make it to state again, and perhaps even place in the top five.

Whether the team makes it or not to state the spirits and camaraderie are high, and the season looks to be a fun one for all runners.

This season runners will be forced to try harder than ever before if they have any hopes of making the team. This not only helps the team, but also adds more internal competition which helps bond the team together in ways that otherwise is not possible.

Whatever the success or failures of the team, cross country will prove valuable for every runner, and will provide a fun and safe, as well as competitive environment, that will help the team grow and become stronger as a whole.