With almost a completely new team at the high school level this year, the Concordia Cross Country team will have many new faces, but also a chance to prove themselves as the season quickly approaches.
Concordia will be without junior standout Hannah Bridwell, who made the 4A state meet her first two years of high school, but won’t be going out for cross country this year. The team returning only one member from last year’s team, sophomore Daniel Reedy.
“We’ve had a couple of boys with experience, Daniel Reedy, he showed some good leadership, Brody Marsh, who ran as a freshman but didn’t run last year, he’s stepped up to that leadership role,” said head coach Rick Haden.
The high school team consists of just six members, five boys and one girl: junior Brody Marsh, sophomores Daniel Reedy and Eli Denham, and freshmen Tucker Davis, and Carson Gallardo, and Sophia Fall.
“We have five high school boy runners, this is a first time we’ve been able to have a team in years… that’s encouraging to see.”
The Panthers get the benefit of starting the season at home, with the Concordia Invitational taking place on September 4. Unlike previous years, it’s predicted to be much cooler, with highs projected to be in the high 70s/low 80s degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s always nice to run at your home meet, it’s good to have that hometown crowd. Our meet is on the smaller side, our course is challenging with lots of hills, it will be good to see how we do against the other teams. Usually our meet is pretty warm, high 90s and humid, this should be really nice for the kids to run and should have good times.”
Following the home meet, the Panthers will travel to the 4A site Wamego on Sept. 13, which also boasts a reputation of its own as a difficult course. After that, the Panthers’ schedule is still close to home, with every meet an hour away or less: Clay Center, Beloit, Southeast of Saline, and Riley County, before having to go back to Wamego for the NCKL meet to kick off the postseason.
