The Haines High School cross-country team started practicing this week.

New head coach Liam Cassidy Tuesday led the squad through workouts that started with a regimen of stretches and barefoot loping before taking the team out for light runs toward Battery Point or Dalton City.

Cassidy, who served as assistant coach the past five years, said he’s encouraged by a turnout of about 12 students, but would like to see more.

“We need more numbers. It’s tough (to recruit) before school starts because you don’t have the captive audience. If you can get a couple kids in each grade, you’re lucky. But I’m encouraged,” he said.

This year’s teams should have a solid core of veterans, like seniors Jolene Lemieux, Chris Bowman, Blake Hamilton, and Hunter Badgley. They’re expected to be bolstered by some fiery underclassmen like sprinter Serena Badgley, a freshman, and sophomore Corey Piper, winner of the Mount Ripinsky Fourth of July run.

Other runners out or expected out include juniors Maggie Daly, Marnie Rasmussen, and Quinn Asquith, and sophomores Karlie Spud, Tia Heywood, Brandon Bachman, Patrick Henderson, Chris Olsen and Jess Giddings.

Eighth-grader Zayla Asquith-Heinz also is running with the team.

Assistant coach Heather Lende, who as head coach developed regional champion boys’ and girls’ teams in 2005-2007, said the team’s fortunes continue to surprise her. “Last year we coached them thinking it was a rebuilding year, but they did pretty good. We should have pushed them harder.”

At the Southeast championship last year, the Glacier Bear girls finished fourth of eight squads and the boys were fifth of eight. It was the first time in six years that neither team qualified for the state meet. This year, Lende’s expecting an improvement. “They’re solid. They look like two pretty good teams.”

The team’s first meet will likely be Sept. 4 in Petersburg. Runners must make 10 practices after a required physical exam to participate in the first meet. For more information, contact Cassidy at 314-0751.

Author