FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Wayne Country Day cross country

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 17, 2017 6:00 AM

• Print
• Email

By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

Wayne Country Day has taken the girls' cross country scene by storm over the past two seasons.

They emerged as the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state 1-A champion in 2016 after a runner-up finish in 2015.

Now, the boys want to add some wind gusts of their own.

Can anyone weather the Chargers, who will be just as stout and fast as they were a year ago?

Head coach Robert Glass said the program didn't experience anything abnormal in the offseason, but added that it's grown to 42 runners -- girls and boys combined. The runners did their own summer workouts.

"Our boys' team grew with some new juniors who are older ... a few more who wanted to compete," Glass said. "They see success and they want to be a part of it. I really feel the boys have just as good a chance (at a state title) as the girls.

"Success breeds success."

Two all-state performers -- Gray Young and Ashton Gupton -- return on the girls' side. Also back are Natalie and Elizabeth Bailey, Kate Nielsen and Katherine Eltz. New faces in the program appear in seventh, eighth and ninth grade, along with a couple of transfers.

On the boys' side, junior Cole Atwood crossed the line fourth and earned a nod on the all-state team last season. The Chargers placed fifth overall in the team portion, which matched their effort from the 2015.

Glass also anticipates quality campaigns from seniors Suraj Patel and Daniel Covert, juniors Charlie Dees and Cooper Edmondson, and sophomore Connor Bauer. Dees joined the squad in the offseason.

Throughout 2015, Glass constantly updated his PR (personal record) list for both teams. Runners topped their previous best times in various meets, even the season-ending Coastal Plains Independent 1-A championships. WCDS claimed the boys' and girls' titles.

"I think a lot of it is they feed off of each other," Glass said. "They feed off of the success, but if they see Gray Young working hard, then they want to work hard. Nobody slacks and they hold each other accountable and that's what I think really helps our success.

"That's a huge part because everybody wants to succeed. Me, as a coach, I couldn't be any prouder."

The Chargers' training regimen includes sprints, course work, distance and a timed run. The runners, through Glass' watchful eyes, strengthen different muscles needed depending on the course -- flat or hilly -- that they see during the season.

It's all about improvement.

"We just try to break it up, never do the same thing twice because I don't want to make it boring," Glass said of his daily practice plans. "It seems to work for us. The biggest thing is to never go backwards, always put your best out there.

"As long as you're trying your best and doing your best, that's all you can ask for."

Oh yeah.

Prepare for the storm.