Poplar Bluff cross country prepares for districts on Saturday

Coach Beth Lewis will have her cross country team at full strength just in time for the district tournament.

The Poplar Bluff High School cross country team will put their distance running to the test on Saturday at the Class 5 District 1 Tournament.

Throughout the season, many runners had other obligations with other sports, but with fall sports slowly coming to an end, Lewis now has a solid squad.

The Mules will travel to House Springs to compete against 17 other schools for an opportunity to finish with the best time. Lewis said not having the team at full capacity was a struggle initially, but she’s excited to have everyone back for districts.

“Everything has gone well, but with our small numbers, we haven’t been able to put all the pieces together just yet, but we’re going be able to do that this weekend,” Lewis said. “They came in with a pretty solid base from the summer, and they’re all great friends, so it’s been a real family unit all year. I know they’re ready to go, and the temperature is going to be good, so they’re all excited.”

Since taking sectionals away in the district tournament, Lewis said it’s been a while since the Mules have finished in the top standings. Though their chances of finishing at the top as a team could be ways away, the Mules have three key runners who could potentially PR some good times.

While two runners compete in their final cross-country meet with the Mules, the other will look to shatter her times from last season. Seniors Parker Hicks and Nick Spain said the season has gone well for them both. Spain said he’s been in a bit of a slump lately, but things are starting to pick up at the right time.

“I think my running has gotten a lot better,” Spain said. “I’ve been figuring out how to pace myself better and stay focused in the race, not stressing myself out too much.”

Hicks has put up some of his best times this season and said the team has been working extremely hard under coach Lewis while pushing each other to get better every day. Despite being his last season as a Mule, Hicks said he’s ready to compete at districts.

“I’m nervous as always,” Hicks said. “I know that I’ve put a lot of training in for this. I’ve worked hard and Coach Lewis has trained us really well for this. I know I must trust the training and give it my all for one last time.”

Hicks said his skills as a runner have grown a lot since his freshman year. As he gets prepared to take on some elite competition, he said his main goal is to start the meet with a positive mindset and execute one mile at a time.

Fellow runner and sophomore Wren Cotrell has seen a big jump in her times compared to last season. With a lot more experience and a better pace, Cotrell said her confidence has gone up heading into races, and she’s ready to outperform her numbers from last season.

“Heading into this year’s districts, I want to be more positive going into the race, not just for me, but for my teammates as well,” Cotrell said. “Having a positive mindset helps you do a lot better. Last year, I was nervous because I was a freshman and just didn’t know what to expect. But now I know what to expect, so I feel a lot more prepared, and I know what I can do.

“I want everyone to do good, be there for each other, and try to hype each other up. I plan to be positive for my teammates, and my main goal is to run a better time than last year, which, so far, I’m doing that.”