Runners are acclimating to new leadership as Oglethorpe County cross country prepares for its upcoming season.
Jessica Ward will direct the program after previous head coach Melissa McGarity stepped down. Ward is new to the school system after teaching at Cedar Shoals and formerly served as a soccer coach at Morgan County High School.
This is her first time coaching cross country.
“I’m just really excited to work with these runners,” Ward said. “I got to know a couple of them over the summer with our voluntary practices, and I’m just excited to learn all about the sport of cross country and watch them improve every single week.”
Ward will also serve as a Spanish teacher at the high school.
This year, high expectations are held for the girls squad. The Patriots finished ninth at the Class A Division 1 state championship in 2023 and return a bulk of production from last season.
“(The girls team) should be better this year,” assistant coach Darius Tompkins said. “We should get a trophy and I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t.”
Senior Sydnie Henderson finished sixth overall at the state meet last year and will shoot to break 20 minutes this fall.
Juniors Elin Turner and Mylee Nimmons, who both turned in top 60 finishes at the state meet, will also front a strong girls roster.
The boys team loses Landon Mallonee, its top runner from 2023, but will rely on juniors Ethan McLean and Dominic Piscitelli, who holds the best time among all returners.
Junior Cory Tillman headlines a group of boys who have worked “religiously” over the summer in preparation for a rigorous meet schedule.
Tompkins acknowledges the possibility of both teams having successful seasons, but knows any hard work put in over the summer will have to carry over to an intense fall.
“Their attitudes have to be there and also their work ethic,” he said.