Hello to student-athletes and parents — welcome to cross country!
Head coach: John Bacon (email – john.bacon@apsva.us). Assistant coaches: Coach Roz, Coach Troiano and Coach McNeill
Parents night: The Fall Sports Parent Meeting is Thursday night, Aug. 13, 7pm in the Commons. After the 30-min, all-sports presentation, there will be a breakout session for XC parents. I will be there to talk about our program and answer your questions. Hope to see you there!
Practices are taking place Monday-thru-Friday from 7:30-9AM until the start of the school year. Once school starts, practice will be held after every school day (except meet days) from 3:35-5pm. Our first meet is Wednesday, Sept. 2. Our complete, tentative meet schedule is at the bottom of this page.
All student-athletes must complete a 1.5 mile run — without walking — by Friday, Aug. 14, to qualify for the team.
Student-athletes should attend all practices with exceptions for doctor appointments, family scheduling conflicts and other issues approved by the assistant coach overseeing your running group.
Practice t-shirts: Student-athletes will be issued two sleeveless t-shirts (same shirt as last year) and you MUST wear one to all practices. In a pinch a similarly colored t-shirt is ok.
Parents! A little funding help please!: We have a long way to go to meet our funding goal for the season. The money goes toward hundreds of practice shirts, some invitational incidentals, lots of pizza and generally anything that comes up. Please donate here generously!
Running groups: As we sort things out, runners will be assigned to one of the groups below.
– Blue group: Coach McNeill, max.mcneill@apsva.us, an elite runner AND head XC coach at Marymount University, will lead 30 or so of our top athletes.
– White group: Coach Troiano, lelia.troiano@apsva.us, a former W-L runner who still runs competitively and teaches at our school, will lead a group of about fast, competitive kids.
– Green group: Coach Jay, jailapiano18@gmail.com, also a former W-L runner, will lead this group of student-athletes who are either working to join one of the other groups or who just want to enjoy running with friends on the team and run in a few of our races.
– Red group: Coach Roz, emily.roszkowski@apsva.us, a former track athlete who also teaches at W-L, will oversee our awesome 9th graders.
Athletic lockers will be assigned after we sort things out. Leave running gear, a water bottle (and maybe a practice shirt!) in your locker. You can lock up your phone and other stuff during practice.
The other guys: Conference high schools include Herndon, McLean, Langley, Marshall, Wakefield, Yorktown and W-L.
TEAM RULES/EXPECTATIONS
Have fun!: Seriously, have fun.
Runners of all abilities are welcome. You can join our team no matter how fast or slow you are if you are a good student! But you MUST be committed to and be respectful and supportive of your teammates, coaches, officials and our competitors.
Behavior: Any bullying, foul language or disrespectful behavior to teammates, coaches, officials or competitors in any way – verbal, online, social media, etc. – will result in separation from the team. NO FIGHTING OR EVEN PLAYFUL WRESTLING — we can’t tell the difference and sometimes the smaller kid can’t, either. Our team is a safe, inclusive space that welcomes and encourages everyone. Be nice.
Work ethic: Regardless of skill level you MUST work hard and follow the instructions of your coaches, or you will be separated from the team.
Got a legit reason to miss a practice?: You/parent should email the coach leading your group in advance. Coach emails are above in the running groups information. And YOU should actually talk with your coaches! Unexcused absences will result in separation from the team.
No phones at practice: Unless you need a special exception, in which case let the coaches know before practice.
No ballplaying: of any kind during practice.
XC meets: You are expected to compete in meets as assigned by the coaches. If you have a legitimate reason to miss a meet, let your coaches know several days in advance, since you may be taking the spot of another athlete.
Golden rule: Have fun!
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
The team will travel to and from weekday meets on buses that leave from the school at 3:25pm. The bus is not mandatory for meets at Bluemont Park. Saturday Invitationals are in bold and are for select athletes, bus times tbd. We expect to add one or two more invitationals!
The team will travel to and from weekday meets on buses that leave from the school at 3:25pm. The bus is not mandatory for meets at Bluemont Park. Saturday Invitationals are in bold and are for select athletes, bus times tbd. We expect to add one or two more invitationals!
Wednesday, 9-2, 4:30pm: @Lake Fairfax v Yorktown, Herdon and Langley
Tuesday, 9-8, bus time tbd: Monroe Parker Invitational @Burke Lake
Tuesday, 9-8, bus time tbd: Monroe Parker Invitational @Burke Lake
Wednesday, 9-9, 4:30pm: @Bluemont v Yorktown and Herndon (we host!!)
Wednesday, 9-9, 4:30pm: @Bluemont v Yorktown and Herndon (we host!)
Tuesday, 9-15, 4:30pm: @Bluemont v Langley and Wakefield (we host again!!)
Saturday, 9-19, buses leave W-L 7:30am: Georgetown Prep Classic @Gtown Prep (meet ends around 1pm)
Wednesday, 9-23, 5pm: @Bluemont v Marshall, Ytown and Wakefield
Saturday, 9-26, buses leave W-L 7:15am: Oatlands Invitational at Oatlands Plantation (meet ends around 12:30pm)
Wednesday, 9-30, 4:30pm: @Bluemont v Marshall, Ytown and Wakefield
Wednesday, 10-7, 4:30pm: COUNTIES!! at Bluemont v O’Connell, Ytown and Wakefield
Tuesday, 10-13, 5pm: All Liberty District jamboree @Burke Lake
POST SEASON – VARSITY ONLY
Wednesday, 10-21 11:30am (girls then boys): District championships @Burke Lake (Girls@11:30am; Boys@12:30pm)
Wednesday, 10-28: 2:30pm (boys then girls) Regionals @Burke Lake (Girls 2:30; Boys 3:15)
Saturday, 11-7: States!
SCHEDULES
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