Manual cross country runners push through four grueling days a week of practice at various parks to prepare for upcoming meets.

     Practices are Monday through Thursday for two hours, as well as on Saturday if there is not a meet. One of the top-ranked girls’ team runners is Cassidy Hale (11), who said that the team runs seven to eight miles a day at practice, including pacing workouts and hill runs every other day.

     Both the boys’ and girls’ teams competed Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Champions Park on River Road, and will compete on Saturday at the Tennessee Classic in Nashville.

     “Easy” days consist of around six miles, in comparison to hard days of speed workouts for half-mile intervals, said Danielle Kitchen (10).

     According to Reed McKinley (10), Manual’s team has depth this year. “We have strong runners on both Varsity and JV,” he said.

     Concerning the state meet later this fall, Kitchen said, “Hopefully the team gets first or second this year. That’s the goal.”

A sophomore CMA student who is a member of both Key Club and the field hockey team.