The women’s cross-country team is looking to repeat its success from last year as it begins its Sectional run on Oct. 12. 

According to Head Coach Mr. Mark Doctor, the practices will not change as a result of the tournament. He said, “Rather than focusing on one or two things in each practice, we will be mixing different workouts together to make our athletes more complete competitors and to address any weaknesses that we have identified during the season.”

There will be several seniors on the tournament team, and Doctor said he looks to all of them to provide leadership throughout the tournament. 

Experience, according to Doctor, is the strength of the team. “We have three front runners with (seniors) Gracie Carr, Gillian Cridge and Audrey McKinney. They provide a powerful punch up front and, having been there before, they help keep everyone calmed down and focused.” A weakness that Doctor said the team is “getting better” at involves some gaps in the pack which allow opponents to break up the scoring.

As the season comes to a close for the team, members will continue to emphasize maintaining intensity during the mild portion of the race. 

In the Sectional, Doctor said there are several Top 25 teams, including highly rated Brebeuf Jesuit, Bishop Chatard, North Central and Pike, most of which the team has run against before.

Doctor said a benefit to running against teams previously seen during the season is it “can give us some idea about who they have and how they like to run, but line-ups and tactics can change quite a bit when you get into the tournament.”

Doctor wanted students to know that the team appreciates when fans come out to provide support. “We have been in several very close meets this season, and a strong cheering section could be the difference that we need,” he said.

The women will compete in the Brebeuf Jesuit Sectional along with teams from 11 other schools. The top 10 individuals from non‐advancing teams and the first five qualifying teams from each Sectional will advance to Regional.