Summer Training Key to XC Success

Not rain, heat, nor swelling temperatures are keeping the Foxes’ cross country teams from their summer distance training at North Park. Leading the way this coming season will be veteran seniors Christian Fitch, Brooke Krally, and Grace Sisson, all of whom have qualified for the PIAA cross country championships during their careers. Brooke and Grace were members of the 2017 team that won the state championship, and Christian has qualified as an individual runner the past three seasons.

Brooke says this year will be a challenge for the girls’ team as they try to fill the slots previously held by champions Sarena Seeger and Annika Urban. She adds, “We are going to have to work harder and want to win a lot more, but we’re also really looking forward to bettering ourselves.”

Christian, who will peak at 60 miles a week by the beginning of the season, says training for the 3.1 mile high school cross country regulation course, must begin right after school ends in June.

He says, “Summer is the time to start training for the fall. It’s really important, because in distance running, your success is really based upon how much you run and how much effort you put in during the summer. So far, I’ve been really encouraged by the number of boys who are coming to practices and the intensity of our workouts.”