Picture description: The Varsity boys pose with their second-place trophy from the Championship race.
On Friday, September 22 at 5:30 A.M. sharp, the Vestavia Hills High School Cross Country team began their six-hour bus ride to Charlotte, North Carolina to compete in the Hare and Hounds Invitational. The team took 54 of their top runners to this exciting out-of-state meet.
Every year, the Cross Country team goes on a trip. Last year, the team traveled to Cartersville, Georgia for the Wingfoot Classic, which included an exhilarating night race with some obstacles like hay bales and live music. This year, Coach Anderson and Coach Terino wanted the team to race on a fast course with some unfamiliar competition. The course, which is located in McAlpine Park, is also where Foot Locker Cross Country South Regional Championships are. Many of the fastest runners from the South come to North Carolina and race for a chance to qualify for the national championship in California. It was also a privilege to be the only high school team representing the state of Alabama in this meet.
There is excitement in the week leading up to the Hare and Hounds XC Invitational. Having a team trip is one of those things that brings the team together. It also really drives the team dynamic and keeps the season rolling along.
Many of the athletes enjoyed the bus ride there because they got to spend time with their friends and chill. Many were also excited to ride in a Charter bus instead of the usual school buses. The staying in a hotel aspect is also a pretty fun one—many athletes like chilling and hanging out with their teammates in the hotel. The ice baths and team dinner from Olive Garden were also top favorites. The adrenaline rush from being in a new place was very strong as well. A lot of the runners were also very grateful for the opportunity to run in North Carolina as they loved travelling with the team.
The boys and girls teams all ran very well. The boys placed second in the Championship division with Henry Strand placing first overall and Michell Schaaf placing 18th. The boys Invitational division placed seventh as a team. The boys won the Open division with top 21 finishes from Tucker Varner (5th), Owen Stevens (6th), and Owen Seal (17th). Many of the boys ran personal bests and are ready to continue the momentum forward in the next few meets.
On the girls side, the girls finished sixth in the Championship division. The girls finished fourth in the Invitational division with a top 21 finish from Jasmine Zhang (21st). The Open division placed third with Kelsey placing 18th to secure a top 21 finish. Overall, the girls had outstanding races with many season bests.
The Varsity Rebels will be competing in the Husky Challenge at Hewitt-Trussville High School on Saturday, October 21 and JV will be finishing off their season at JV Championships in Alabaster on Monday, October 23. Come out and support the Vestavia Hills Cross Country team as they round up their season! Go Rebels!
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