Four runners comprise Bulldog cross country team

Orient-Macksburg cross country hits the race course for the first time Thursday, Sept. 5 and does so with four runners out this year.

The lone girl out for the team this year is Bridget Bracy, who returns from a good junior season.

On the boys team are Deaken Mullen, Izzy Pierce and Andreas Pierce.

For any of the runners, head coach Dave Hartman said that the early portions of the season will be about building a base, then focus on speed.

“We’re trying to emphasize speed this year, especially for Bridget’s sake. Bridget has not quite been able to qualify for the state meet and we’d like for her to do that as a senior. Her cardiovascular conditioning is pretty solid, but we’re trying to work on her speed,” Hartman said. “Some of the boys also play other sports, so we don’t want them to lose their explosiveness either. We’re trying to be cognizant of building their base, stretching them out a little bit, but we also want them to have an overall quality athletic experience where we’re working with the explosiveness too.”

Hartman’s hope for Bracy is that she can shoot toward running in the 8 to 9 mph range, she would decrease the doubt that she could punch her ticket for state.

“She’s not that far off. Depending on who is in the race, she’s probably a minute and a half away from a state meet berth,” Hartman said.

Hartman said it will be exciting for the Bulldogs to actually break down a huddle at the end of each practice, as opposed to it only being one or two runners who are on the team. He said that having other runners on the team makes the sport an even more positive impact for all involved.