After three meets, two dynamic runners are leading their cross country teammates toward a strong season.
Senior Nicole Chrzanowski and sophomore Josh Warren are running better as the season goes on, placing better at each subsequent meet.
In the Sept. 15 Carrollton Orthopedic Invitational, the boys’ varsity placed seventh out 20 teams. The girls’ varsity placed ninth out of 21 teams.
Warren finished first for the Panthers and 19th out of 176 runners, receiving a top 20 medal in the Varsity Racer, the top level of competition at the invitaional. Chrzanowski also finished first on her team and 22nd out of 183 runners in the varsity race.
The Panthers have several runners doing well. Senior Taylor Huffington had a standout performance on the Carrollton course, finishing in second place overall in the open race.
In the Panther Invitational on Sept. 8, which was run at the new course at the Heritage Church on Bernhard Road, they had another strong showing.
The boys’ and girls’ varsity and girls’ junior varsity teams grabbed second place in their respective races. Not only did they run well as teams but also several individuals preformed well.
Freshman Philip Snitzer won the combined boys’ and girls’ freshman five-kilometer race in a time of 19:10.
“My race went really well, but I just felt drained at the end,” Snitzer said after the race. “Everyone from the team was on the course cheering for me, which was great.”
Warren placed sixth out of 205 runners in the boys’ varsity race and Chrzanowski finished 11th overall out of 163 runners. Each finished first on the team and received top twenty medals.
“I paced myself well throughout the race and still had energy to pass people at the end,” Chrzanowski said.
The Panthers opened their season in Charlotte, N.C., at the Providence Invitational in late August. Both varsity teams took 15th place out of the 47 teams competing.
Warren finished in 29th out of 374 runners and was first among his teammates. “I felt confident going into the race and ended up running well,” Warren said.
Chrzanowski placed 55th overall and also came in first for her team.
Head coach Diane Ruane is pleased by what her team as done so far.
“They ran well, especially in their first meet against different competition on a new course they had never run on before,” Ruane said.
After three races, the cross country team is ready to have a strong second half and qualify for the GHSA State Meet at Carrollton on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Panthers’ next race is at 9 a.m. Saturday at Sandy Creek High School for the Sandy Creek Fall Classic.