The Noblesville cross country team won sectional and regional championships this season and have their eyes set on this weekend’s state meet. (Photo provided)
By QUINN MATTHEWS
quinn@readthereporter.com
The Noblesville boys cross country team aims to showcase their skills that have set the stage for a promising run at the state championship.
The team secured its second consecutive regional championship including notable finishes with an individual title for Banner Barnes and second place for John Libs.
“It felt good to repeat as regional champions and to bring momentum heading into state,” said Banner Barnes.
Feeling like their effort is paying off, the team is turning hard work into results and bringing home plenty of hardware. With their eyes set on the state meet, which is Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, the team is carrying confidence and momentum believing that their best races of the season are still to come.
“I’ve coached for a long time now and you can tell whether things are moving in the right direction, or if sometimes they’re moving in the wrong direction. It feels like we’re moving in the right direction,” said Noblesville head coach Bill Kenley.
As they advance to the state meet, the team is focused on staying calm and connected while they chase the season’s biggest prize. Concentrating on maintaining team chemistry, the boys understand that each run brings them one step closer to the possibility of a state title.
“Going into state, our team is just focusing on the things we can control. We call it ‘Monk Mode’ where we take all the distractions out and just focus on running and each other,” said Barnes.
This week of preparation, both mentally and physically, is fueling the team’s drive and focus as they approach their biggest race of the season. They are ready to adapt to the fiercely competitive environment of a state-wide race featuring the best of the best.
“The adrenaline at the State meet is unlike any other meet. Every top team and every top individual isthere, which doesn’t happen at any other meet during the season,” said John Libs.
The team plans to use that adrenaline as fuel, channeling it into drive and determination as they push to the finish line.
“We want to have our best day, we want the guys to feel like they were prepared and were able to give everything they have,” said Kenley.
No matter what happens at state, the team is committed to leaving it all on the course and embracing the outcome with pride.
“We just want to be happy on the bus ride home, whatever that means, we could be state champion,” said Kenley.
