Scorpions Gear Up for Thrilling Cross-Country Showdown

The Sedona Red Rock High School varsity cross-country team may be small in size, but it compensates with determination and dedication. Head Coach Cody McKesson has emphasized a rigorous approach to training this season, looking to set a serious tone for competitors. “We’ve got an athletic team, and I want to show the people we’re running against that we mean business this year,” he stated. “So I’ve been really pushing the kids, raising the bar.”

One of McKesson’s primary challenges involves keeping the motivational levels high among his athletes. “I just need to grow the programs so everyone has someone to run with and someone to push with,” he explained. The introduction of a middle school cross-country team this year is a strategic move aimed at bolstering future participation. “I think they’re going to be an asset to get their friends to join the program and have a full team within a year or two, hopefully,” McKesson added.

Training is crucial, and McKesson personally commits to running 100 miles each week, highlighting the importance of consistency in preparation. Among the athletes, junior Aubrie Doyle has stood out. She joined the varsity team in her freshman year and qualified for state in her sophomore year, aiming to repeat that success this season. “I want to get a higher place in state this year,” she said, expressing her ambition to improve her time significantly.

Doyle’s fastest recorded time on the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 5-kilometer course was 22 minutes and 50 seconds, and she hopes to reduce it to 21 minutes this year. “Aubrie made state last year, was definitely the best on the team,” commented junior Chokyi Carstens. “She works really hard, probably harder than anyone else.”

Beyond competitiveness, Doyle emphasizes the significance of team bonding, stating it brings her immense joy, which is a vital element of the cross-country experience. Carstens, who joined the Scorpions during his sophomore year, also shares this sentiment. Although he narrowly missed state qualification last year, he intends to improve his time from 20 minutes and 23 seconds to around 18 minutes this season.

Carstens noted that a lack of participation limited last year’s activities but is hopeful for improvement this year, which includes potentially reviving fun events like the watermelon relay race. Senior Nic McAtee, the only senior on the team, is anticipated to be an unofficial team captain, while Doyle serves as the formal captain.

McAtee, whose background includes varsity baseball and track and field, finds peace in running. “It’s a way to find just peace and you find yourself pushing further every day,” he remarked. This season, he aims to enhance his speed while enjoying the natural beauty of the area. “My goal is just to stick with it and try to see where it can get me,” he said.

Additionally, McAtee balances his athletic pursuits with a commitment to his church and community service, having volunteered at a Baptist church in South Carolina over the summer. He is also preparing to pursue a nursing career following high school. As the season progresses, McKesson highlights that cross-country is defined by individual effort rather than conventional metrics of success found in other sports.

The first cross-country meet of the season kicked off at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff on August 31, marking the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating season for the Sedona Red Rock teams.