DHS cross country gearing up for first meet
Published 8:49 am Tuesday, August 19, 2014
The Demopolis High School cross country team is in its first year as a program. There are 23 runners on the team, and 14 of them are shown here.
Demopolis High School’s newly formed cross country team is gearing up for its first meet in program history.
The Tigers will run in the first meet in program history in Florence on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Head coach Deborah Boykin said there are 23 students who came out for the team.
“I would have been happy with 15 runners,” she said. “I’m thrilled to have 23 out here.”
The team uses the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers trails near Demopolis Lock and Dam as their home trails, but since they’re in their first year as a program, they won’t host any meets this season.
Audrey Boykin, Darnesha Harris and Mary-Michael Bradley run during a rainy practice Monday.
“Chip Dixon with the Corps of Engineers has done a great job with these trails, and they’re something Demopolis should be proud of,” she said. “We’re grateful to have them here to use.”
She added that the most challenging part of having a new team is figuring out logistics.
“We have to leave campus to practice, so getting everybody here is something we’ve had to figure out along the way,” she said.
Boykin’s goal for the team is to have some runners make it to sectionals and possibly state.
“It’s great to finally have a cross country team here in Demopolis,” she said. “5K runs are really popular now, and that’s what cross country meets are. I’m glad we’ve had the interest that we have. I also hope the kids that run cross country in the fall will go out for the track team in the spring to help build that program as well.”
She added that she hopes with some success this season, Demopolis will be able to host a meet or two next year.
The cross country team is also raising money to help the team this season. They will host a car wash at Malone’s Texaco on Saturday, Aug. 23, and they are also selling T-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants. Anyone interested in purchasing apparel from the team can contact Demopolis High School at (334) 289-0294.
The Demopolis High School cross country team’s schedule is as follows:
•Aug. 30 in Florence
•Sept. 6 in Mobile
•Sept. 20 in Tuscaloosa
•Sept. 27 in Montgomery
•Oct. 11 in Helena
•Oct. 18 in Trussville
•Oct. 30 – Sectionals
•Nov. 8 – State
