Cross country runners will compete today at the district meet at Old Settler’s Park. Junior Emily Forster said the team is young, but both the girls and boys have been working hard to prepare for the contest.

“I’m looking forward to a competitive race and hope that [our] team can hopefully win,” Forster said. “We’ve raced some of our district teams in the past, so we know  it will be a competitive race.”

The girls cross country team has had a good season so far, placing first at the Pflugerville and Cedar Park meets earlier. They are currently ranked second in district.

“This season has gone great,” coach Katie Kistner said. “We have a lot of talent and experience and the girls have performed well for the past few years.”

The boys cross country team is currently ranked third in district. Head coach Kelly Thompson feels confident about their district race.

“The results are on paper, it’s how we’ve run,” Thompson said. “On paper, we’re slated to win. It’s going to be a tight race, though, for the boys and girls. Both teams have a chance to win. We’re going to take care of business.”

To prepare for their meets, cross country runners participate in long runs of about 7-8 miles every week and various distance and intensity workouts. For personal training, senior James Tisdale runs up to 12 miles every weekend.

“The past few years in cross country, I haven’t been able to break the 15 minute  barrier,” Tisdale said. “Now, I’ve broken it, and with the training I’ve been doing, I think my  time will drop even more.”