The South Loup fall sports season kicks off this week and the cross country team is ready to run. The team is on the road to Burwell today (Aug. 29) for their first meet of 2024.

This year’s girls team consists of seniors Ivy Tullis and Ella Cool. The boys team consists of seniors Caleb McFate and Dawson Mason, juniors Josiah Coleman and Eli Rogers, sophomore Walter Bierman, and freshman Jaden Bush. The team is coached by Nicole Recoy.

“Ella and Ivy have qualified for state for the past three years and I am excited to see how these girls perform this season,” said Coach Recoy. “Our boy's team will be a strong team again this year. Having four seniors is wonderful because they are great leaders and role models for our younger athletes. Everyone ran extremely well last year at districts, so I am looking forward to watching them perform this season and see their growth. This is a hardworking group of kids, and I am excited for our first meet at Burwell.”

“I feel our biggest strengths have to be both our number and quality of runners. Our boy's team is large in numbers, and we have many strong runners,” said Ivy Tullis. “We don’t quite have a girl's team, but we are both state qualifiers and compete well. I am excited to finish off my cross country years with many good memories, friends, and hopefully some PRs (personal records).”

Ella Cool also chimed in with her thoughts on the upcoming season. “Our team's biggest strengths are how we start as a team and finish as a team! Throughout the whole run we are constantly giving high fives and lifting each other up. That will take us so far during race season.

“I’m so excited to see everyone’s hard work pay off,” Ella continued. Running is such a tough sport, so when we get into October it is so rewarding to see the times drop. We have all been running so hard and I can’t wait to see the results!”

Senior Caleb McFate said the team has several boys this year who are good runners and could help the team place at meets. “We were so close to placing at districts and going to state last year. It would be great if we could go to state as a team this year,” he shared.