Kennard Cross Country 2016
Kennard Cross Country Gearing Up for 2016
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
KENNARD – It has been said there is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory. Truer words have never been spoken about the sport of cross country. The sport itself – at its most basic – is very simple. You run a course designed to wear you out before you wear out your competition.
Ahh … but if it was only that simple, the Kennard Cross Country team would not meet every morning before the school year kicks off to run four plus miles by 9 a.m. Led by girls’ CC Coach Craig Deckard and boys’ AD/CC Coach Chris McClain, the Lady Tigers and Tigers are looking to make their mark in Region IV District28A against teams from Apple Springs, Chester, Groveton Centerville, Martinsville and Wells.
The girls’ side of the course will see returners: Kendall Adair, Dariann Ping, Katie Minter, Tacoreyn McDaniel, Teriana Johnson and Deliala Galvan.
Adair qualified for the State Meet in 2014 as a sophomore and just barely missed a chance to return to Round Rock last year. Hot on her heels is Pang who will be a sophomore this year. As a team, the Lady Tigers qualified for the 2015 Regional Meet, finishing just outside of the top ten, and should qualify for the regional meet again in 2016.
According to the UIL, “The top three teams and the top 10 individuals shall qualify from district to the regional meet. An individual qualifier may also be a team member of one of the qualifying teams. The top four teams and the top 10 individuals (who are not already on the advancing teams) shall qualify from regional to the state meet.”
The boys’ team will see the return of Chris Dias, Austin Griffin and Myrick Pope. Both Griffin and Dias qualified for the Regional Meet held at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi in 2015 and should make a return trip in 2016.
The distance for the cross country event has been set by the UIL at approximately two miles for 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A girls (3200 meters) and three miles for the 1A through 6A boys, as well as the 5A and 6A girls (5000 meters).
