Juniors Earns 6th at State Cross Country Meet, Helps Earn Team 3rd Overall

Madi Salaverry, Reporter • November 16, 2024

After the match, junior Molly Garrison competes at the Cross Country meet Friday Oct. 11.

Approaching the starting line, junior Molly Garrison could feel her nerves racing as she moved into position. It was the most important race of the season—state. This is her third time around, and she will make every stride count.

Along with the cross country teammates, Garrison claimed sixth overall to help earn the girls team third in state and the boys team placed 12th overall at the Round Rock meet Nov. 1–2.

“I was really nervous,” Garrison said “It helped me be a lot less nervous because I knew the course.”

Despite the nerves, Garrison’s coach viewed her as a leader and a positive influence for the team who constantly “root for each other” through out the season.

“She’s been focused the entire season,” head cross country coach Michael Pinkerton said. “They are one of the tightest knit groups that I’ve ever seen, that I’ve ever been around. The great thing is if one of them has a bad day, there’s another one that steps up. That’s how close they are, how tight they run, and it’s just incredible it really is.”

Garrison’s energy throughout the season has also been recognized by her teammates.

“Molly did a very good job handling the pressure,” teammate junior Carley Couch said. “She always made sure to tell me good job after every race, and she always cheered me on when I was running.”

Garrison said she didn’t know if she would make it to this point after midseason shin splits affected her performance, and she thought I was going to have to stop running for the rest of the season.”

But Garrison landed among the top, and she’s ready to take on state her senior year with gold in sight.