Boosters Set for Second Cross Country Season

The North Andover Boosters are set to launch their fall cross-country season.

With over 60 participants last year from grades sixth through eighth, the program is hopeful that they can build on what began last year in its inaugural year.   Cross-country is a sport that runners race over natural terrain.  For middle school, the length of the courses will vary but can be anywhere from 1.4 miles up to just short of 1.8 miles in distance. The courses include grass and earth surfaces, as well as woodlands and open country.  The courses will vary from flat ground to some variable hill running.

According to Bill Varney, Boosters Commissioner of Cross-Country, this is a natural progression for Boosters in their effort to bring the community choices in athletic participation. “We have a lot of young boys and girls who love to run track during the spring, so this will provide them another opportunity to compete and run, but in a different venue.  The sport is also a nice compliment for training in other sports.”

In fact, in its first season last fall, most of the athletes also played soccer and used cross-country to improve their fitness which is very common, according to Varney.  “If you look at the high school state championships year after year, many of the better runners had their roots as accomplished soccer players as a youth.” 

The fall season will consist of 5-6 meets running against other towns followed by participation in the Middle School State Championship meet at the end of the year. Registration will be accepted through Sep. 15 at http://www.eteamz.com/NABC/.

Cost per athlete is $45.00 and for the fall season, participation is limited to 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  Coaches for this fall are John Gorman, an accomplished distance runner who runs for the Whirlaway Running Club and Annie Starrett, who actively runs for the Goon Squad Runners and is an Assistant Coach for North Andover middle school & high school spring track programs.