Running toward the final stretch of the season
The Mt.A Cross Country team has had a very successful start to the season, both in and outside of meets. Head Coach Claire Peabody said, “the club has grown in numbers” as the program continues to expand. Assistant Coach Charles Douglas said, “a lot of new runners came out this year,” and there were more runners “consistently showing up.” Regarding personal growth, Peabody said, “everyone who has races this year has achieved a personal best time,” which has been significant given runners do not “always get a personal best every season.”
This success was attributed to both the hard work of the runners and the environment that Coach Peabody created. Both coaches and runners put in time and effort, Douglas said, “Tuesdays and Thursdays are guided sessions, and then Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, if not at a meet, are self-guided.” Both coaches listed numerous workouts done on these guided days, but in general Peabody said “they aim to tailor each workout to the individual ability of the person running,” as they welcome anyone no matter their running experience. During these practices the team has uplifted each other building, “camaraderie on the team, and everyone is [either] suffering or enjoying it, [and] experiencing things altogether.” Co-Captain Maxen Morrison said, “the team felt really strong this year, not just performance but as a family.”
This hard work has translated into success in the meets of this season. The team recently competed at the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) cross country meet on Oct. 25. At this meet, the women’s team finished first in their division and the men’s team came second. The success of both teams was a group effort, as “the place that you finish is the points that are given to the team,” said Douglas. In addition to the entire team’s success, Co-Captain and Mt.A fourth-year student Tallulah MacNeil received runner of the year. Speaking about MacNeil, Peabody says she “dominated this season,” and “literally ran away with every race.” In each race, MacNeil was “60-90 seconds in front of second place,” says Peabody. Peabody also highlighted Morrison, who made the All-Conference Team, and said he ran a “really tough race.” In addition to the player’s success, Peabody was awarded coach of the year. This award is “voted on by the other coaches in the conference,” which Peabody described as “a real honor.” One reason this award was given to Peabody is because of the environment she fosters, with Morrison saying Peabody “is the reason it is such a fun place, because she is able to make running fun.”
The ACAA meet is not where the team’s season ends. The women’s team is fundraising to go to nationals and compete in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) meet. Yet, this is not the first year they have had “teams qualify or had individual runners qualify, but we haven’t been allowed by the University to attend,” says Peabody. This year is special, though, as nationals is taking place in P.E.I., “so the athletic director said yes,” said Peabody. She continues, they are “incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to race at the national level,” both to the athletic department and to people who have supported them through the GoFundMe. This is still open, and is helping them on their way to achieve their goal of going to nationals.
You may visit this link: https://gofund.me/7fa125091