With Nome-Beltz Middle High School’s first day of school mere weeks away, the cross country team was already back at work by the end of July.
Second-year cross country coach, Emmett Foster, said the team is battling the elements in preparation of the short, but intense season.
“We're like, running through puddles that are kind of up to our shins. And that's all kind of stuff that they need to be ready and to expect,” Foster said. “So a lot of form training, lot of terrain training, and we have our home meet the first week back to school.”
Foster said by the team’s first meet in Soldotna this weekend, they’ll have 20 practices under their belts.
He said the team’s two seniors last year, Orson Hoogendorn and AwaLuk "Wookie" Nichols left big shoes to fill. Both finished in the top ten at state last year. But he’s already seeing potential in his new senior class.
“Ben Milton. He's a powerhouse, he's a machine. I expect really strong things again from him this year, Young Erikson, he's also stepping up as a senior,” Foster said.
Foster also lauded freshman Noel Pardee and middle schooler Lexi Blandford for their burgeoning talent and determination.
Dealing with cuts
As the season gets underway, the team is also facing budget troubles. Last year, Nome Public Schools slashed its student travel budget in half — from $120,000 to $60,000. Foster said, fortunately, the community has responded in-kind.
“I am so grateful for our community, for the parents of the runners, they definitely take the bulk of that,” Foster said. “The Blandfords have really stepped up, the Farleys, the Nichols family. I mean, there's so many parents and families out there that are really some of our biggest supporters.”
The silver lining, Foster said, is that the young athletes are working extra hard to earn a spot on the travel roster.
“Budget cuts are never fun. They are tricky for everybody involved in the situation. But I think that just having that extra motivation of, ‘okay, I got to be like, at the top of my game all the time’.”
The Schedule
On the first weekend of September, the team will host its own home meet, with teams across western Alaska joining. Shishmaref, Wales, Brevig Mission and White Mountain are among the teams expected to attend.
After warming up at home, the team has a split weekend. Some Nanooks will be heading north to Kotzebue for its invitational on Sept. 12, those not going north will be hitting the road system for Seward's Dieckgraff Invitational the following day. Then the team will fly to Chugiak’s Mustang Smokin Stampede on Sept. 20 before returning to Kotzebue for the Big West regional meet on Sept. 27.
The season will culminate in the state championship at Palmer High School on Oct. 4.
The Nanook's home meet is Sept. 6., with a 5K race open to the public following shortly after. Foster encouraged residents to show up and support the team.
