The KHS Cross Country team started their year July 27th, with the goal of topping last year?s 2nd place finish in district competition and sending runners to the state meet in Austin. {{more}}Overall, it was a good year for both the Wildcat and Lady Kat distance runners in 2014. Not only did they finish in second place, but they each qualified both teams for the state region meet in Lubbock for the third straight year.
Both Coach Katrina Pytel and Coach Michael Strange return to their coaching duties this year along with 23 Lady Kats and 19 Wildcats.
It is not easy being a distance runner. A key is building up stamina. Coach Pytel described the team practice schedule.
?We do several different workouts but our schedule consists of the following: Distance running (3-5 miles) Mondays and Wednesdays; Sprints on Tuesdays (example sprint day: 6x400m and 2x100m); Body weight circuit workouts on Thursdays with high intensity and maximum heart rate achieved. The kids do a 1 mile warmup and a half mile cool down every day and then do their core workout for that specific day. We do change the workouts depending on what they may need help to improve their running form, stride, breathing, etc.?
Pytel added, ?Once conditioned, after being off for the summer, we will work up to 16-18 miles a week.
According to the coaches the runners to watch this year are Alexis Thornton, Jamie Najar (11th), Jordan Washington (11th), Carson Ham (11th) and Trey Burke (11th).
The KHS runners have already been in one meet, the Hawk Invitational on August 20 at TCC Northeast Campus in Hurst. In that meet there were 16 teams entered, dominated by 5A teams from Arlington, Mansfield, Fort Worth and Birdville plus several 4A along with a couple of private schools.Kennedale teams did well with the Wildcat JV finishing in 7th place overall in the JV division. In the Varsity division, the Cats were 6th . The Lady Kats JV took 6th and Kats were in 7th place. Top finisher for the Lady Kats were Jamie Najar (23rd) with a time of 14:20.01 followed by Bicana Braz at 14:45.64. For the Wildcat, it was Trey Burke (33rd) at 11:48.35 followed by Jordan Washington (34th) at 11:50.76.
Their second meet of the year is this Friday, the Cowtown Invitational at Haltom High School. There will be five more meets before the District 7-4A meet on October 14 at Veterans Park in Arlington. See the schedule at KHS
Cross Country
?The athletes have been working extremely hard in this heat. They have continued to push through each and every workout. They are getting stronger both mentally and physically and I can?t wait to see how this season turns out,? said Pytel.
Comments are closed.