The Sacred Heart Cross Country team had a breakout 2017 season! For the first time, the team welcomed 2nd and 3rd graders to join the new Novice running program. Coaches Amy Schaarsmith and Dani Jo Cessna coached the Novice program and did a great job of mixing in fun while also building endurance. Because of all the hard work at practice, Sacred Heart Novice runners competed well, earning a plethora of team trophies and individual medals over the course of the season.
In addition to the Novice runners, the team attracted many new runners in grades 4 - 8 as well. This year the team had a total of 67 runners participating, an 80% increase over last season! Sacred Heart now has one of the largest youth running programs in the Diocese.
And what did the team do with all of those runners? Win! Over the course of the season, Sacred Heart earned a case full of team trophies and countless individual medals. Our Novice Girls, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys earned a team trophy in every regular season meet this season.
While the winning season was impressive, coaches Trish Murphy, Dave Schaarsmith, Keith Woodward, and Lee Haller were most impressed with the team spirit and camaraderie displayed by the runners. Sacred Heart team members could regularly be seen cheering on their teammates, in some cases running along side of them to provide encouragement. As a result, the cross country program was a fun experience for runners of all ages and skill levels.
A special congratulations to our graduating 8th graders. Your running talent and great team spirit will be missed next season. Thank you to all of the runners and their parents for making 2017 a season to remember!