Cross Country Looking to Finish Strong

The 2023 Williamson cross country team has faced a different setback each week during the season but is hoping to close on a positive note at the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association's Region 19 championships on Saturday in Lancaster, PA.

"It has been a season of what can go wrong, will go wrong," shared longtime head coach Steve Hixson 7W3.  "We have not had our full team for a single race to the point where we can score as a team.  Despite that, the guys are working hard and we really hope to put our best foot forward to close things out on a positive note at the Region 19 championships."

In order to score as a team in a meet, a college must have five runners start and complete the race.  Williamson had six runners, but jut prior to the first race, one of the six quit school.  At the first race, the team's fifth runner did not complete the race, so the team could not score.  Two other races guys were injured so the team could score.  On two other occasions, one race a runner missed the race and one of the races was canceled. 

The team looked like it was primed to make a run at the 2023 Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championships on October 14, but three-year veteran Shamar Smith was injured during the Shop Games the day before and could not run, so again Williamson did not score. 

"This is a great group of guys and I really enjoy coaching them.  The good news is they are working hard and I expect them to run their best race of the year at Regions.  Where that puts us in the team standings, I don't know but as longa as the guys finish strong and give it their best effort, I'll be thrilled," closed Hixson.

Those competing for the team this year have been Shamar Smith, Amir Price Hector Hernandez, Rahnier Townsend and Dehkontee Washington.