By MOLLY WALLACE
After chanting their cheer, the girls cross country team lines up for the sound of the shotgun that starts their meet and proves their spot on varsity.
The season’s first meet has a pre-decided varsity, or top seven, obtained through a time-trial race. However, after that first race, whoever runs best at the meets may replace someone for a spot on the top seven. For the upcoming Manhattan Invite in New York City, though, the top 12 runners attending are decided by the season’s first two meets.
Training yourself to obtain these spots has its downside, though. Training too hard for too long can lead to short and long term injuries. Major problems that occur for runners include shin splints, blisters, calf pains and chaffing. These injuries can then force a runner to quit training, therefore losing her long fight for stamina.
“Dealing with injuries is frustrating as a coach,” head coach Paul Katauskas, girls head coach, said.
Because of overtraining, junior Heather Classe was diagnosed with hip bursitis, which is when fluid builds up between the muscles in one’s hip and can cause serious pain. With her injury in the past, though, Classe continues to run on varsity and place in the meets.
In the FACA Cross Country Classic in Tampa and the Mountain Dew UF Invitational in Gainesville, Classe placed in the top 50. She also ran her season’s best, with a 19:56.14, at the Mountain Dew UF Invitational in Gainesville.
“[When I run] I feel happy, of course, but very exhausted,” Classe said.
As a team, the girls’ average in the first meet at Tampa was 21:44.22, putting them in 9th place, and at the second meet in Gainesville it was 20:57.51, putting them in 6th place.
“You feel really good that you pushed each other to get to that point,” Alexandria Meneses, freshman, said.
The girls continue to train as beneficially as they can. Eating healthy, staying hydrated and balancing rest with workouts are all parts of maintaining an able and fit body.
“The athletic person is a noble one, because you are constantly trying to better yourself,” Chris Lee, girls assistant coach, said.
The next meet in New York has pushed the girls cross country team to train and perform at their best, and other upcoming meets, like the Hagerty Invite in Oviedo, will continue this effort.