Many sports teams dominate one year and then fall the next, but this wasn't the case with the DWHS girls cross country team, which showed as they repeated as state champions, regional champions, and TVL champions.

Out of the seven runners, six are returning veterans. These veterans include juniors Elle Williams and Emma Albers. Sophomores include Chloe Clevenger, Claire Cole, Lilly Clark, Aly Gobin, and newcomer Zoee Edie. 

Training started for these athletes in late July. Practices were typically an hour to an hour and a half long. These practices consisted of long runs, recovery runs, speedwork, and hills. “We run outside always unless there’s lightning,” said Cole.

All these talented athletes have managed to improve over the season by setting personal records and school records. Williams set a new school record of 19:56 at state cross country. 

The state cross country championship was located in Victoria, Kan. this year. The course was on the Victoria-Sand Plum Nature Trail. This course consisted of 1,000 meters of flat ground in the beginning. Towards the middle there was one big hill and some smaller rolling hills. After that the last 1,000 meters were flat again. This course was a great course, said head coach Gina Clevenger. 

Even though Albers couldn’t run due to an unfortunate accident that resulted in a concussion, she still traveled to Victoria to cheer on her teammates. Her participation really would have benefited the Mustangs, but they still pulled through with the victory and outscored second place by 12 points. 

“I wasn’t nervous about how I would do, I was nervous about how we would perform as a team. I was nervous about how our points total would come out,” said Williams. Williams placed second in the 1A state division with a record time of 19:56. Clevenger placed fifth with a time of 20:33, Cole placed 11th with a time of 21:33, Gobin placed 45th with a time of 24:51, Clark placed 50th with a time of 25:43, and Edie placed 64th with a time of 28:29.

Hi! My name is Ava Gladhart and it seems you've stumbled onto my page. I'm a freshman at DWHS this year and I'm involved in FFA, volleyball, basketball, cheer, dance, the fall play, and I'm a member of the KAY Board. I really like to stay busy and be involved as much as I can. Some of my favorite things to do include hanging out with my friends and family and going to the lake in the summer.