Undefeated record, perfect score the finishing touches to a stellar season for Taylor County Middle School

Home Perf.Database Results Indoor Track Outdoor Track Cross Country Photos Calendar

Undefeated record, perfect score the finishing touches to a stellar season for Taylor County Middle School

By Nicole Lemal (run.nicole.wvu@gmail.com)
Tristaterunnur.com

GRAFTON, W.Va. – Looking at numbers used to intimidate the Taylor County Middle School girls cross country team. Anytime they noticed Suncrest Middle School was at a meet, their optimism spiraled into disappointment.

“Our kids would automatically get down and disappointed because there’s so many kids and there’s a lot of talent – between 77 to 87 kids running all the time,” Taylor County Middle School coach Kim Wood said.

Once the gun went off, that all changed. Taylor County showed strength in smaller numbers.

“For us to beat Suncrest was just a big accomplishment for my kids,” Wood said. “It was a big deal to them to be able to go out and beat Suncrest.”

In fact no team in the state could even come close to Taylor County, considering the depth they had. By the end of the season it was clear they had done something right, as they went undefeated.

Finishing in the top two became somewhat of a ritual for the top girls on their team this season. After their lead runners eighth grader Hannah Griffith and seventh grader Alicia Parsons claimed second and third overall at the
Autumn Classic in August, they were on a mission. Never looking back, the girls consistently posted first and second place finishes throughout the entire season.

“Hannah Griffith is probably 5’8, 5’9. Alicia, I think, weighs less than 100 lbs. She is just teeny tiny, but she has the biggest heart. She has a lot of endurance, and she has the drive to win. Both of those girls do. They’ve got the heart and desire to win, and they’re very humble.”

However, there is more to this team than who leads up front. Take a look at the remaining girls in the top five: sixth grader Allison Peters, sixth grader Hannah Louzy, and seventh grader Cassie Delawder. All of them never finished lower than Top 11. Bronlie Jacobs and Lakin Nose rounded out the squad.

“They’re just the type of girls - they give 110 percent in practice all of the time,” Wood said. “They’re very active; they’re very athletic. I don’t take full credit for this at all, but they’re just good, athletic girls.”

They’re also the kind of girls who train on their own in the off-season, the kind of girls who not only just run but focus on the core exercises that build strength. Ab workouts, push-ups and jumping jacks are just a part of their practice.

“I believe in total conditioning,” she said. “If you’re getting conditioned well enough, you can do almost anything.”

And they did. Under her watch the team posted a perfect score at the Doddridge Invitational on Sept. 13 and continued their success up until the end when they claimed the team title at the Doddridge Middle School Invitational on Oct. 11. Griffith and Parsons went 1-2 in 13:45.75 and 13:55.16 respectively to cover the 3,300 meter distance. Peters placed seventh with 14:18.97 followed by Louzy in 10th at 14:31.02 and Delawder in 14:31.53.

“I’m very proud of them,” she said. “When I had those kids on my team, they’re like my own kids. I have a lot of proud feelings for them, and I don’t take all of the credit for it, but it’s nice. It feels good to go out and win.”

Although it’s a great feeling as a coach to watch them accomplish so much in one season, she found more joy in something else. As they wrapped up their season, she realized how much her girls enjoyed being on the team. That meant more than anything to her.

“When those kids come up to me and say, ‘This is my first year running cross country. I didn’t know it was going to be this fun’ - they didn’t want to see the season end. They were having such a good time. As a coach that makes me happy to know they’re enjoying themselves. It doesn’t seem like it is a punishment running everyday.”

What has turned out to be fun has translated into success for this group of girls.

Now the team can look back and remember one thing from this season. Quality tromps quantity.

Varsity Girls: Hannah Griffith,Alicia Parsons,Allison Peters,Cassie Delawder,Hannah Louzy,Bronlie Jo Jacobs,Lakin Nose

Undefeated record, perfect score

Photo by Ginger Delawder

Battle of the Potomac XC Registration
Battle of the Potomac XC Facebook
2010 Race Coverage