When the gun went off on September 30 at the APS cross country city championships at Cheney Stadium, the Running Warriors sprinted off the line with a specific goal in mind: Redemption. After a disappointing 2nd place finish from both the girls and boys team last year, a chance to win both lingered in their minds. This time around, the girls finished a very close second to Maynard Jackson, while the boys team won first overall. Hard work, dedication and time have been invested into the 2025 cross country season, and with just two meets left, it’s time for the runners to give it their all as the season comes to an end.
Last year, the meet was run at piedmont park, but Cheney Stadium made a comeback this year as the championship course. Runners often refer to this course as a slow one, a result of the very long grass that never seems to be cut and the hot, humid temperatures common for midtown afternoons. Sophomore Maggie Wise, junior Gwyneth Ferguson, and senior Scottie Brown led the girls to victory, capturing three spots in the top ten. Overall, the girls took second to Maynard Jackson, a repeat of last year’s result but still a moment of pride for how far they’ve come. Reflecting on the race, Scottie Brown said, “Even though we got second, I’m really proud of the girls for racing hard and all showing up for each other. I’m going to miss the energy at those meets and everyone cheering each other on.”
In contrast, the boys team dominated their competition, coming in first place overall; an improvement from the second place they took last year at Piedmont Park. Seniors Cabell Townsend, Arjun Mitra, Garner Howerton, and Rand Kirsch ran hard to hold four spots in the top ten for the boys. The boys carried intense focus into the race, pack running as a group of five until nearly 4k when Arjun Mitra led a ferocious kick into the finish. Dr. Nicholas Cluster, head coach for the boys and girls cross country team and math teacher at NAHS, expressed his pride in the boys’ effort, saying, “I was very impressed with the runners, especially the seniors and the freshman boys, who did better their second time racing at Cheney than the first time around.”
With three meets left in the season, the team remains focused after their impressive showing at APS. The remaining meets are sectionals and the GHSA state meet. The varsity runners are preparing for these last, most important races. A hilly Carrollton course for the state meet will challenge how effective their last five months of training have really been.
Even though the most important part of the season remains, the APS city championship was a reminder of why all of the miles and workouts were worth it. Long grass, hot temps, and all– the Warriors still ran the city.
