Cross Country ready to run this season

“Prehab, not rehab” highlights lessons learned from the 2023 season

Cross country season is on the horizon, and the Trojans have set high expectations for the 2024 season.

“We are excited about this year,” said Brian Cunningham, head coach of the Troy cross-country teams. 

“We have a pretty good schedule coming up, and we are really excited with the progress that everyone made in the summer.

“We look really good so far in practice, and we look strong. Now being able to translate that aerobic strength into speed on the course, it’s an exciting time for sure. I think this should be a special fall.”

Both teams dealt with their fair share of injuries last season, which has caused players to be even more proactive when dealing with injury risk.

Sophomore Keith Warner said he has learned a lot about injury prevention over his first full year with the team.

“Prehab instead of rehab,” Warner said. “Just staying ahead of it and knowing what your tendencies are to get injured is important.

“Staying healthy was a big roadblock last year.”

One of the main offseason focuses was on injury prevention, and junior Makenna Calbert echoed that sentiment.

“If something is hurting a little bit, talk to your trainer, and step back and cross-train instead of pushing through and running and making it worse,”  Calbert said.

Cunningham, Warner and Calbert all stressed that the goal for this year’s squad is the same as always: continued improvement on the course and in the classroom.

“You always want to improve on last year’s times,” Calbert said. “I also want us to get the highest team GPA again.”

Although cross country events are not held on campus, there are still several ways students and locals can show support for the cross country teams who work so hard to represent Troy.

“The easiest way to support the team is through interaction on social media and just asking athletes in the cafeteria how the team is doing,” Cunningham said.

“We also have a meet that is hosted by Huntingdon about twenty minutes away in Grady, Alabama, and that would be an easier one to come out to and support.”

Both teams will begin their seasons on Aug. 30 in Oxford, Alabama, at the JSU Foothills Invitational.