Panther cross country has defied all expectations.
At the 3A state meet in Kernersville Nov. 2, Franklin’s top three runners weren’t projected to light up the leaderboard, entering the meet ranked 60th, 88th and 150th. In fact, all three saved their best times of the season for last, placing 29 spots higher or more.
“Everybody went up the rankings in their placement, and overall that was our goal going in,” said head coach Melissa Ward of Morgan Cress, Amy Mendoza Lopez and Matheson Post. “Morgan was actually in 16th place for a little while. That was kind of fun seeing her climb up, but she just got out-kicked at the end. … Matheson was pretty upset because it was his last [meet], but the girls are hungry for more.”
In placing 22nd (19:59.44), 45th (21:00.67) and 121st (18:59.46), respectively, Cress, Mendoza Lopez and Post all far outpaced their pre-meet projections, which were based on runners’ previous season-best marks. After months of building stamina, the meet was the payoff of a carefully constructed plan.
“We were supposed to peak toward the state meet, ideally, and that was part of it – they did improve times and out-performed what they came in at,” said Ward of increasing the mileage and intensity of the team’s workouts throughout the season. “[The pre-meet rankings were] based on the current season times and how everybody else placed, and I’m sure there’s plenty of people that underperformed, which helped them get there as well. You’ve just got to make the best of it on state meet day – a lot of nerves, and a lot of pressure on a course that’s pretty tough.”
At a difficult venue in Kernersville’s Ivey Redmon Sports Complex, which features multiple long uphill stretches, the Panthers faced an especially tough race. As three of just 56 runners to earn at-large bids as individuals, they were forced to make do without help from their teammates.
“It’s hard to do much else other than try to win it when you’re there without a team, and if the whole team had gone I feel like we would have done rather well,” said Ward. “But they each had personal goals, and [Cress and Mendoza Lopez] were in the individuals box with Tuscola from the West Region as well. I can’t remember who else was in there, but there were three girls from Tuscola, and so it kind of felt like they formed their own kind of team. I told them, ‘Work with each other, take advantage of that, and show them that the West is here.’ I know they had fun with it, and they were thrilled to come out ahead and break so many places to come up.”
After their last cross country meet, Franklin’s top runners had little time to waste, with their first indoor track contest scheduled for Nov. 15. With facilities at Franklin High and Macon Middle in flux however, the team will need to practice any way they can.
“Right now the middle school track is in a waiting period. They laid the asphalt, and I think it’s like a 28-day period they have to let that cure,” said Ward. “Then they can put rubber on it, so we’re looking at about two more weeks before they can do the rubber. So right now, we need the stadium to stay put for a few more weeks, and hopefully everything happens at the right time. If not, we have some backup plans for the Greenway, or even the rec park. We’ve looked at some options, but we’re hoping to just transition to the middle school without having to go anywhere else.”