Alonna Knott, Lake Highlands Cross Country coach, had a very simple message for her team this week leading up to the District 9-5A Championship Friday at Norbuck Park.
“I told them to look at their personal best time this year and try to beat that,” Knott said. “Just set a goal and run as fast as you can.”
The Norbuck Park terrain was used for the Lake Highlands Classic earlier this year and typically includes a challenging hill that runs alongside Buckner Road. But for the district meet that will not be in the course. That should make the course easier than before.
The girls team starts at 9:30 a.m. and the boys follow at 10 a.m..
The top three teams from the boys and the top three teams from the girls will move on to the Region II Championship at Gerald Richey CC Course at Arlington’s Vanderfgriff Park. Also, the top 10 individuals from both the boys and girls will move on to the regional meet.
The boys team is looking to win its third consecutive district championship, while the girls team haas finished second the last two years.
“I’m shooting for them both to finish first this year,” said Knott.
Knott says she is hopeful Meron Fessahaie, Rice commit, will cruise easily through district so that he can put forth a better effort in the regional meet than he had last year.
“Meron has been working very hard this year,” Knott said. “He wasn’t feeling good last year and he didn’t do as well as he thought he should.”
Also, keep an eye on sophomore Sarah Shaw who Knott says has been practicing with the boys team this week to push herself harder against the competition.
