Cross-country running is a good way to get into shape

Cross-country running is a good way to get into shape

Sept. 16, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

For those wanting to get into shape, especially those who are in middle or high school, running is probably the easiest way to do it. Cross-country running is a little more aesthetically interesting. Throw in some interscholastic competition and the sport of cross-country running is formed.

Dave Dillman has been cross-country coach at Montezuma-Cortez High School for the past three years. While he has seen an increased number in girls participating, lately there has not been a boys’ program.

But Dillman still tries to tell kids the importance of keeping in shape. He says cross-country running is a good way to do that. He knows that for many of the girls who are running, they are just getting into shape for another sport. And he doesn’t mind that, just as long as they are getting exercise and doing something they can do almost all of their lives.

"Running is a lifelong sport. It is really two sports: An individual and a team. Consequently, if they get better the team gets better. I was running in the Pueblo to Pueblo Race this past summer. I saw a sweet old lady in her 70s running. It is just a healthy way of getting exercise," he said.

Members of this year’s team include junior Julie Christenson, senior Sara Snyder, and sophomores Holly Smith, Chesleigh Keene, Jessica Millican, and Becca Whitehead. Snyder, though, is running for the first time while all the others ran a year ago.

"So far this season, I have seen a big improvement from the ones returning over last year," he said. "In that second year of cross-country, there is an amplification of skills. They have all those miles on their legs. They are also a year old and a little more mature and experienced."

Christenson had an excellent track and field season last spring. Keene has improved and Smith put in a lot of miles over the summer. Snyder has been a nice addition to the team in being a senior. Millican and Whitehead have both been working hard in order to get better.

"Jessica is small in frame but has been working hard. She has a lot of heart and she is dedicated to training. She knocked more than two minutes off her time from the Delta meet a year ago to the one we just had," he noted.

"Becca is doing well and is improving her times. Smith’s efforts over the summer have been paying off for her. She knocked more than a minute off her time from the Delta meet. Smith and Whitehead should both go under 23 minutes for 3.1-miles. Keene continues to be a real surprise. She just keeps getting better and better. Her training ethics are very good and she is the no. 2 runner right now. She is not quite there yet, but she will be," Dillman said.

"Snyder is a soccer player in the spring. This will really get her in shape for that sport. Snyder has scored well at both Delta and most-recently at Durango. Of course, being this is her first year, there is lots of room for improvement," he remarked.

"Christenson set the school record (for girls) in both the 800 and 1600 runs last spring. By running distance this fall, that will really help her later this spring. She has a good chance to qualify for State if she continues to work hard," he added.

Dillman is pleased there is a good core group of girls with most of them being underclassmen.

He believes in stretching and exercising before going out on the road. A common ailment of cross-country runners is shin-splints, caused by running on different types of surfaces. He has the girls use exercises to ease shin-splints.

After visiting Shiprock today, the Panthers compete at the Ridgway Invitational Sept. 22 and the Silverton Invitational Sept. 23. The Gallup, N.M., Invitational is set Sept. 30 with the Monticello, Utah Invite slated Oct. 4. Mancos Invitational is slated for Oct. 7 and the Tohatchi, N.M. Invitational rounding out the regular season on Oct. 14. Regionals is set for Oct. 20 in Delta.