Runners Look To Carry Momentum Into County Finals
by Taylor Fernandes ’14
The boys’ cross country team has started off with an impressive record of 4-1 and the girls are 0-5, with senior Vik Siberry and freshman Amanda Hayes-Puttfarcken leading their respective teams. Though the boys have shown more success in some meets, both teams are expected to make it to states.
The boys have started off on the right foot. Defeating several different but equally strong teams in both the MD Track and Trail Invitational and the Bull Run Large School’s Race, the boys took first place, confirming their strength as a team.
“This year so far in cross country our boys’ team has won a meet and stayed strong through many others,” said junior Jarett Harman. “The girls’ team has also run very well, winning medals and running through meets with confidence. I expect our team to continue to be great in the future, and I look forward to running with my teammates in the meets to come.”
The boys have shown their strength all season, especially in their meet against Churchill on September 11. The boys, led by Kebede and Siberry, ran a perfect race to lead the team to a final score of 50 to 15.
The girls, however, took a tough loss at the hands of Churchill 40 to 21, with Junior Grace McDonald and Hayes -Puttfarcken finishing third and fourth. “The team is a million times stronger than we were in the beginning of the season,” said McDonald. “We are more focused and more confident than I could have ever imagined we would be.”
The girls did have many successful runs, including the Bull Run XC Invitational on September 22, where McDonald, Hayes -Puttfarcken and senior Amanda Tomlinson led the team to place fifth out of 20 teams. On October 6, during the Octoberfest Invitational, the girls placed 32 out of 38 teams.
“I am not sure what Sherwood High Schools expectations are of the cross country team, but I am incredibly confident in my team and therefore know we will meet them, whatever they may be. And yes, that does mean going to states,” said McDonald.
On October 20, both boys and girls will be running at the Montgomery County XC Championships, followed by the North Regional XC Championships on November 1. The boys will head into the Montgomery County Championship as one of the top teams, while the girls look to shock the county. With Siberry and Hayes-Puttfarcken leading the charge, the Warriors can be a lethal team. Watch for both to appear in the state championship meet, alongside Wootton, who defeated the Warriors on October 9.