Robbinsville – Years of building a boys program are nearing a significant payoff.
The Robbinsville Black Knights return several well-conditioned and disciplined runners for the 2021 cross-country season, a mere seven months after the delayed 2020 slate ended with a 1A Western Regional appearance.
“Our team has a chance of qualifying for regionals and state this year, but if they do not qualify as a team, William Cable, Hayden Stewart and Xander Wachacha stand a really good chance (at qualifying individually),” Robbinsville cross-country coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams said.
Stewart is the only senior for the boys this season. He missed the cut for state last year due to COVID restrictions on the number of qualifiers.
“He improved lots during track season, so I foresee him improving his time in cross country this year,” Carringer-Adams said. “William, Xander and Zeb Stewart all improved their times during track as well, and I foresee PRs for them later this season.”
New to the Black Knights’ roster are Isaiah Brown and Jacob Satterfield. The latter competed in middle school, while Brown was noted by Carringer-Adams as having “great athleticism.”
Lady Knights
Many questions surrounded the future of the Robbinsville girls cross-country team after last season, when only one athlete – Ava Barlow – suited up for the Lady Knights. Carringer-Adams was tasked with rebuilding interest in the girls program, and in the process, recruited five athletes who are prepped for the task.
Senior Ainslee Munro, who just returned from basic training for the National Guard, will be joined by sophomores Delaney Brooms and Liberty Hartley, as well as freshmen Anna Wehr and Greta Whisonant.
“Ainslee and Delaney both have experience in running track, but as the season progresses and they get accustomed to the distance aspect of cross country, they will be great assets to the team,” Carringer-Adams said. “Greta is also a new student here this year, and has a strong work ethic and great attitude.
“Though the girls’ team is starting over from scratch, I am very excited for the future years of the program. We have 14 girls and 12 boys on our middle school teams. Though the majority of the middle-schoolers are new to the sport, I see pure athleticism and a bright future for many of them.”