The 2019 women\u2019s cross-country team has been running toward success with the guidance of new Head Coach, Don Hood. Though the team was not sure what to expect from Hood, he said they adapted well to the change. As he began his first season of coaching at Harding, he made it his focus to be engaged in his runners\u2019 lives as athletes and students, and he encouraged them to motivate each other.<\/p>\n
According to junior Kaylee Rice, this season\u2019s success has been due to the community of hard workers that she runs with and the focus Hood has put on having a strong team dynamic. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to do well for one another,\u201d Rice said. \u201cIndividually, we want to run our best race so the team as a whole can say we ran our best race.\u201d <\/p>\n
In Hood\u2019s first season of coaching the women\u2019s cross-country team, he put a strong emphasis on being there for one another and taking responsibility for one\u2019s own part within the team. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey really support each other well,\u201d Hood said. \u201cWhen a group of people are for each other, there tends to be a stronger sense of obligation, and no one wants to let anyone else down.\u201d <\/p>\n
Though the team\u2019s strong bond is a main contributor of their success, they have had to be self-disciplined enough to carry out the lifestyle of a runner even after the practices and meets. The runners are encouraged to do their workouts, maintain a healthy sleep schedule and eat balanced meals. <\/p>\n
Freshman Nieves Megias takes the lifestyle of a runner seriously but still acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining a disciplined schedule while balancing schoolwork and friendships. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard because sometimes your friends want to go out, but you have to say no,\u201d Megias said. \u201cWe have to eat healthy and go to bed early. We have to be disciplined because we love our sport, and we have to say goodbye to these other things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though the lifestyle is demanding, freshman Jada Trice is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Harding\u2019s cross-country team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think about this a lot,\u201d Trice said. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine myself not running here \u00ad\u2014 especially after experiencing the team dynamic. It\u2019s such a good opportunity that not everyone can take advantage of. I thank God for letting me be on this team with these girls; I\u2019ve met a lot of great people within my first season of running.\u201d <\/p>\n
This season the team placed first at the University of West Florida Invitational in Pensacola, Florida, and at the Lois Davis Invitational in Magnolia, Arkansas. At the Lois Davis Invitational, Megias ran the fastest time this season by a Lady Bison, finishing in 18:14:6. Sophomore Sydney Tabor placed fourth with a time of 18:38:7, while junior Kinga Szarzynska finished at 18:45:5.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s cross-country team will travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, tomorrow for the Great American Conference Championships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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