Ms. Wong, Ms. Dunn, Sharisbel Thomas, Kylie Rackett, and Maameyaa Nyinah gave us some inside information about Woodbridge Middle School’s cross country team this season.

When asked if cross country is difficult or easy, Wong informed, “A little bit of both”.  The coach’s opinion on what is the most troublesome aspect about cross country is the distance.  Most people feel they have to be fast to join cross country, Wong’s point of view is, “They just want to win and be the best”, but really you just have to try your hardest, never give up, and stay at your own pace.” Wong’s advice for how to build up a team’s confidence would be by cheering each other on. Coach Wong doesn’t really have much experience coaching, but she did say, “It’s fun to run with you guys and encourage you to do better”.

Dunn, the former softball coach, thinks cross country isn’t the same as softball. Softball has many players, while cross country is more individual.  Dunn also said, “The easiest part is all the girls are involved. They’re all coachable and they listen.”  Coach  Dunn doesn’t have much experience coaching cross country either, but she has with other sports.

This year is the first time Thomas joined cross country, she said that it’s “painful”, and “make sure you drink water”. The only problem Thomas has to face while running is her asthma. Some advice from Thomas for anyone who is contemplating about cross country would be to drink a lot of water.   “Because it seemed fun” was Thomas’s response why she wanted to join the team. Thomas’s first time running felt “tiring and painful”.

Rackett said it’s “difficult” running for WMS.  She also feels that running is “good for you”.  “Getting better” is Rackett’s favorite aspect about cross country.  Rackett practices for races by pacing herself.  A way Rackett brings faith to her team is by telling them to try harder.

Nyinah, the fastest girl on the cross country team said that she can’t recall  the first time she ran because it was in kindergarden, but it wa “pretty fun” she said.  One of  Nyinah’s favorite aspects of cross country is running in nature because it’s “peaceful”.  Repping the school in her last year of cross country is “cool” for Nyinah because it is her last year and she’s going to leave behind a “legacy”.  “It takes hard work, but at the end it’s worth it,”  Nyinah said as her advice for anyone wanting to join cross country.