Season A '20: A different kind of running for Colorado cross country
There will be, of course, social distance for distance running, but 'Stangs ready to tackle a new form of the sport during the pandemic.
(Fourth in a series of previews for Season A.)
Cross country for Colorado schoolboys and schoolgirls is happening in 2020, although the Season A version will be modified from the usual fall offering, and in some cases drastically.
Indeed, there will be running during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but just not as much as there ordinarily is.
To wit:
--- The number of meets will be down across the board.
--- The number of runners per meet will be down.
--- The number of postseason qualifiers will be down.
Social distancing will be required for distance running.
However, head coach Joe Welling and the Mullen Mustangs won’t be down … in any way, shape or form. The sport is being offered for their student-athletes and it’s all that matters.
“For our whole coaching staff,” said Welling, in his 10th year, “we’re excited for the opportunity to offer cross country for our kids. We know this is something healthy for them physically, socially and mentally. I won’t complain about any of the guidelines. It’s just an honor to provide this opportunity for our kids.”
For boys, senior Michael Dudzic will be the team leader, although the top varsity runners from a year ago return virtually intact, including Jack Tolbert, Owen McCarter, Diego Taboada-Cross, Aidan Schwarz and Gunnar Holmes. The group was third in the Class 5A-based Centennial League a year ago.
Amy O’Connell, who had a big freshman season in 2019, will head the 4A Mustangs girls side that Welling said has interesting younger talent.
“Our competitive season will look very different this year,” Welling said, “Varsity (top six) and junior varsity (second six) will have consistent races within the league, but we’ll have to find some creative homegrown competitions for the dozens of remaining runners.”
A benefit, he added, “is with other sports being delayed, we could have our numbers increase. They don’t have the other traditional options and if they want to stay in shape this is a unique opportunity to do so. This will probably be a season we put together with a homegrown league schedule, maybe a couple of dual meets here and there.”
Varsity races involving higher numbers of teams probably will have to be offered in waves as opposed to large fields and Welling said “It will be a real challenge for the junior-varsity runners, We have to try to find competition. It will be challenging, but we’ll figure it out.”
The Mustangs will open on Saturday, Aug. 22, by hosting an invitational on campus beginning approximately 9 a.m.
© 2020 Mullen High School. All Rights Reserved.