Youth & Experiencemore

WAITSBURG - The WP cross country team is a bit unique in that its members in­clude students not only from both Prescott and Waitsburg but the students are a mix of high school and middle school age.

Coach Joanna Lanning of Waitsburg has kept the team diverse to honor the history of the team, which she revived here in Waitsburg seven years ago as a middle-school sport. As those original students moved on to high school, the team changed, but Lan­ning has always kept it open for middle school students. And now that Prescott and Waitsburg have combined the pool of athletes is even

diverse. "We've always had a strong middle school pro­gram,"

she said. "And I haven't wanted to change that." This year the team has two youth from middle school and seven high school ath­letes, though a majority of those are lowerclassmen from the freshmen and soph­omore classes - unlike in Dayton where all but one cross country competitor are upperclassmen.

Lanning began her career as cross country coach with little experience other than being a collegiate soccer player and avid runner. But in her first year as coach, the Waitsburg team made it to state, and they've been to state six times now in the seven years she's been train­ing them. "They're really gotten to be a good team," she said. "And we have the best team ever this year. We've got some real talent there."

Lanning, like many cross country coaches, runs with her team during practice. They tackle all sorts of ter­rain around town in order to be prepared for various tracks during the season. The first meet happens in less than two weeks, but Lanning says her runners will be ready. Most of them have been training for weeks - and some trained throughout the summer. WP Cross Country

High School: Ben Moser E.J. Meserve Erik Sandoval Isabel Benito Matthew Montgomery Nick Carpenter Seth Deal

Middle School: Trent Hafen Trey Potts

Coach: Joanna Lanning