After an accomplished 2023 season, Cross County track is entering this year with high expectations.
The senior high boys and girls teams, and the junior high boys team all finished as 3-2A conference runners-up. The junior high girls won the conference title, and the program finished as 1A-2A indoor state runners-up.
“The expectations are always, one, to have high numbers. Also, two, to compete and win a district championship,” said Cross County track coach Katon Hill. “Now it’s time to make sure we’re one of the top teams in the state and push for that next level of competition where we’re finishing in the top 10, top five in the state whether as individuals, relays, or as a team.”
Hill said the program has experienced steady growth.
“Seeing kids develop speed-wise, jumping ability, and overall development, it’s come along,” he said. “Now you get to put it out there over the next couple weeks and see what we do really have, what do we have going against other competition.
Hill said track is unique in that it is both an individual and a team sport.
“Yes, you have a team, but it’s one of those ones where it’s you against that clock, throwing against somebody else, or jumping against somebody else,” he said. “Your individual score or time could help or hurt the team. It’s an individual thing, but also still a team sport. Also in kids’ minds, they can get those individual medals, ribbons, and things like that.”
Cross County will begin its senior high track season tomorrow in the Harding University Senior Invitational.
Here is this year’s Cross County junior high track schedule:
- Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Harding University Junior Invitational
- Monday, March 11 – Pocahontas Junior Peco Relays
- Tuesday, March 26 – Osceola Junior Seminole Relays
- Tuesday, April 2 – Paragould Junior Arnold Relays
- Tuesday, April 9 – Pocahontas Junior Wellman Relays
- Thursday, April 18 – 3-2A District Track Meet at Pocahontas
Here is this year’s Cross County senior high track schedule:
- Thursday, Feb. 29 – Harding University Senior Invitational
- Thursday, March 7 – Searcy Senior High Lion Relays
- Thursday, March 14 – Pocahontas Senior Peco Relays
- Thursday, March 28 – Osceola Senior Seminole Relays
- Thursday, April 4 – Paragould Senior Arnold Relays
- Thursday, April 11 – Pocahontas Senior Wellman Relays
- Thursday, April 25 – 3-2A District Track Meet at Pocahontas
- Tuesday, April 30 – 2A State Track Meet at Quitman
