Coaches Meet with Cross-Country Team

By John Earp

Last Monday, the Jal Junior and Senior High School Cross-Country Team and their parents had a meeting with JHS Head Cross-Country Coach Joe Cole, Assistant Cross-Country Coach Priscilla Montoya, and Athletic Director Gary Simmons.

Cole discussed the fact that the Cross-Country Team now has enough student athletes to need a full-sized bus to attend meets. Athletic Director Gary Simmons mentioned the fact that at one of the schools he formerly coached at, he made his volleyballers also run cross-country. It was mentioned that football athletes wouldn’t lose their sprinting speed and agility due to running cross-country, and football practices will also help with overall cardiorespiratory fitness.

Coach Cole says he has seven runners participating at the high school level, and about 14 runners in his junior high cross-country team, which is significant. Cole is excited about having a junior high team this year for the first time since he has been coaching the team, and hopes to see the program continue to grow in participation and commitment from the athletes.

The team has been practicing at 6:00 a.m. for the past couple weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.