Cross country to start Monday

By Sam Waller

New coach Donnie Hart expects Albany’s cross country athletes to hit the ground running as preseason workouts begin at 6:30 a.m. Monday, July 31.

“We’re trying to build some excitement, so we’ve  got a good, tough two-a-day schedule set up,” Hart, who will also coach girls basketball, said. “We’ll do some early morning runs and hill training, try to get the endurance built up, then come back in the afternoons and do core workouts.”

Afternoon workouts, which will be held every other day, will begin at 4:00 p.m.

Hart said it was important to build enthusiasm for the program and increase participation. Having his daughter Makki, who will be a senior, gives him a lead runner to build a team around.

“She’s been a state qualifier the last three years at Shallowater,” he said. “Having her be a part of the team and being around these girls she’s going to play basketball with will really help.”

Among returning girls, Hart said Callan Edgar, a regional track qualifier last spring, is one he expects to count on.

“We’re going to try to get her going,” he said, “And we’ve got some good young ones with potential, some freshmen coming in.”

Hart said taking the job as late as he did means he will still be putting the pieces together after the season starts.

“The first couple of weeks is going to be spent trying to figure out who’s going be toting the mail for us in competition,” he said. “The plan is to get us in some competitive meets and push the kids early so they understand we’re taking it seriously.”

Albany will open the season Saturday, Aug. 19, at Jim Ned’s Warpath Invitational before competing in Lubbock Christian University’s Rustbuster Relays on Saturday, Aug. 26.

“We’ve got a cool little overnight trip around the first football game in Lubbock,” Hart said. “It’s going to get rolling fast. We’re going to jump in with both feet.”