Imagine it is a warm day, not too cold nor too hot. Everybody lines up at the starting line and as the wind whistles through their ears, they get ready to run their hardest. All the people quiet down as they hear someone say “On your marks.” Then a bang, the gun goes off. Everyone starts running, doing their best to get ahead of the pack.
This year’s junior high cross country team is running their way to the end of the season, and as it comes closer everybody’s running times are continuing to increase and the whole team is working hard to get ready for sections with coach Brett Zimmerman pushing them to increase time and build endurance. This year, the team has three junior high runners: John Vandagriff, Henry Flodeen, and Sabella Jenson.
The team just had their home meet at the Cannon Falls fairgrounds where they ran 2500 meters. Even though the team has three runners this year, two of them are leaving for high school next year, which leaves only Sabella Jenson. If no more middle schoolers join next year, many people won’t be in junior high. The junior high team is ready to run fast next year because the team has three junior high runners. Sabella Jenson says “In my personal opinion I think Zim will put more practice on us and more drills.” “I think it will push the team to practice harder and the team will end up getting better and better,” said John Vandagriff.
One of the most successful junior high runners on the team, John Vandagriff is a first-year runner who has gotten top ten in every race he has run so far. He also got first in two of the five races; his top time in a 2500 meter race is 9:42.4 minutes, which is just above a 5 minute mile. In the years to come Vandagriff hopes to increase his mile time and to increase his running pace. He also enjoys biking along with and hanging out with friends.
Sabella Jensen is in her second year on the team in seventh grade, whose top time for a 2500 meter race was 14:41.5 minutes. Sabella also rollerblades to school, is in dance, and in track and field, and also likes swimming, watercolor, and drawing. Next year when Sabella is in 8th grade she hopes to be better. Jensen says “I wish to accomplish being a better and greater runner in Cross Country.”
Henry Flodeen is in his third year on the junior high cross country team and has run varsity in the past. His top 2500 meter time is 10:18.5 minutes. He is also in track and field, and math league. Flodeen also likes to learn new skills and try new things.
Although sometimes it is hard to build endurance, the Cannon Falls junior high cross country team is doing well and is ready for the years to come. As the season comes to an end, they keep working harder to run faster and increase their times.
