Southmont’s Cross Country team is young in 2023 but that young team has talent behind it. Southmont just wrapped last Saturday opening up their season at the Clinton Prairie Invite and had some good showings from both teams. Entering this season the Mounties will be looking to fill the void left by Faith Allen on the girls side who was an anchor for the Lady Mounties over the course of her career.
For the girls sophomore Darby Cottrell will take over as the teams top runner along with freshman Ami Shannon providing some depth as well. In their first meet Cottrell earned an overall eighth place finish.
The Mountie boys will lean on sophomore Sam Crum and freshman Trent Reeves who both placed first and second respectively for the Mounties last Saturday.
“We’re a very young team across the board but these guys and girls have been working and training really hard,” Mountie coach Shelley Allen said. “With these kids its all about them dropping times throughout the season. I’m not too worried about the overall placement. Success to me isn’t all about winning, though it’s fun when it happens. A successful season to me is more about watching the kids continue to do better than their previous performance whether that is the race the previous week or how they performed at the same meet last season. Having a good team atmosphere and camaraderie is also important to a successful season to me.”
Thursday the Mounties will be back in action at the Seeger Invite before competing on Saturday at the Small School Invitational. Their annual Leap Into September home meet is slated for Aug. 29. Sept. 7 they’ll compete at the annual Charger Classic with the county meet being at CHS on Sept. 13. Danville hosts this years Sagamore Conference meet on Sept. 30.
