Janet Schrader, Democrat Reporter

The Suwannee girls cross country team has kicked off their season with a first meet in Gainesville, the Gator Invitational at the University of Florida. The girls competed against many prestigious cross country programs from all over the state. Out of 28 teams, our girls finished 23rd.



This was the first time many of the girls had run in a cross country event, which is a 5k (3.1 mile) run. The team has only one returning runner, junior Kelsey Sellgren. The rest of the team members are all running cross country for the first time. They are senior Lesley Cook, sophomore Jawana Walker, freshman Samantha Burk, freshman Emily Wilson and freshman Kelsey Henderson. Many of the girls had never run before much less run a long distance such as the 5K.



“Presently, we’re trying to build a running foundation for these girls to last them a lifetime,” Cross Country Coach Jimmy McCullers said. “Going into the event this weekend, the girls had two goals they wanted to accomplish. Number one they wanted to finish the race and number two not be last.”



The girls accomplished both of these goals for every team member.



“We look at the event as a successful one because we accomplished these goals,” McCullers said. “I’m very proud of their performance. From now on, at each event, one of our goals will certainly be to improve on our performance and set a personal best time each time we race. Now that this first event is under our belt, we know what we need to work on and we know we have to work a little harder to increase our endurance and speed.”



McCullers said the one thing he hopes to bring to the team is to give the girls the information and motivation to succeed in running. “Running is for everyone,” McCullers said. “You don’t need any special equipment, just a pair of running shoes and the will to walk out the door and start moving. As one famous runner (John Bingham) once said, ‘The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.’ These girls have that courage.”



McCullers has been running for many years. He said he just wants to share what he’s learned from all his years running with others. He’s run 5K’s all the way up to marathons. Each year McCullers runs the Gate River Run 15K (9.3 miles) in Jacksonville and is currently training to run the 2004 Walt Disney World Marathon (26.2 miles).



“Hopefully, the knowledge I have gained from participating in these events will help me to coach these young women to be successful in cross country, and more importantly, life,” McCullers said.



Janet Schrader may be reached by calling 1/386/362-1734 ext. 132 or by e-mail at janet.schrader@gaflnews.com.