The numbers and expectations are high for the Winder-Barrow High School cross country team this fall.
Coach Michael Lofton said 40 runners are in the program which will make for top-level competition for the varsity positions. WBHS begins the new season Saturday at the Northeast Georgia Championship hosted by Athens Christian School.
“The cream will have to rise to the top for our runners,” Lofton said. “If you want a spot on varsity you will have to earn it.”
Junior Skyler Lowe returns to help lead the Bulldoggs. Senior Chris Cope, junior Alex Martinez, senior Shane Davis, senior Jake Hester, sophomore William Wright and senior newcomer Josiah Bennett are also among the top WBHS runners.
Chris Lee, Colby Estes, Nelson Lofton and Tony Rowden will also push for one of the top spots.
“It will be a battle for those seven varsity positions,” Lofton said. “Our top runners will be pushed. I would like to see how we run Saturday against other competition. It will provide a good show of where we are and where we need to be.”
Approximately 35 teams will compete in Athens Saturday.
Senior Amanda Cope will lead the Lady Bulldoggs along with juniors Caitlin Connell, Anna Dean and Whitley Kennedy. Freshman Amber Duffy and juniors Darcy Potts and Hannah Bartz are also expected to have an impact for the Lady Doggs.
With the exception of Duffy, who is a freshman, all of the top WBHS Lady Bulldogg runners are back from last season.
“This type of event is always nerve-racking,” Lofton said. “You want to do well but you also want to be where you need to be time-wise. As a coach, place is not as important as time. We want to keep cutting our times down with each meet we compete in.”
The Bulldogg and Lady Bulldogg cross country members have been training since May and their coach admits they are ready for competition against other schools.
“They will get excited about having an actual competition,” Lofton said. “It will show them what they need to work on.”
