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Dodson Cross Country 2020

Dodson brings back four state performers

The Dodson Cross Country teams consist of four runners in middle school and two middle schoolers.

The high school team welcomes back four returning runners in 2020, all of which qualified for the State C meet in their careers. These runners include seniors Ireland Best and Melony Fetter, as well as sophomores Lindsey Fetter and Emma Cole.

Best ran in the 2018 and 2017 meets, while more recently M. Fetter, L. Fetter and Cole had ran in the 2020 State C meet.

Though Dodson Schools is planning on opening their doors on Wednesday, September 9, the Cross Country team has been running in the morning in efforts to avoid the heat of the day. Coach Ditmar shared what it was like being able to participate in cross country practices and meets.

"The races are run a little different," Coach Ditmar said. "But it was good to get back out and the kids were glad to get back out. It's good to see people get back to normal."

Coach Ditmar also believes that running practices in the morning benefits the team because they typically run meets mid-morning.

As far as leadership amongst the team, the Coyotes have been led by M. Fetter and L. Fetter, who weren't able to run in the Poplar meet.

"They look solid and like they are ready to run," Coach Ditmar said. "We are probably going to run them (in the next meet)."

Coach Ditmar believes that L. Fetter will be among the top 20 or top 15 runners in every meet this season and that her older sister M. Fetter will be right in the mix.

Though the Fetter sisters and their teammates push each other, the team has been pushed even more so by the youngest runners, Mason LoneBear and Chaske Cliff.

"Right now at practices, Mason Lonebear is the one that they chase," Coach Ditmar said. "He is just so active. He just runs. He runs like Forrest (Gump)."

During practice Coach Ditmar and Head Coach Tianna Bloomer have been stressing proper running techniques.

"We have been working on form, breathing, and distance," Coach Ditmar said.

He went on to say that the team's schedule is different. They run six-miles on Mondays. They then do sprints on Tuesdays, time their three-mile runs on Wednesdays and run longer distances on Thursdays.

"We take them out into the hills at different areas up north or to the south hills," Coach Ditmar said. "The hills are what gets them."

Cole was the lone high schooler to compete at the Poplar Meet on Saturday, September 5. She had a time of 36:35. LoneBear and Cliff also ran in the middle school meet. The duo placed in the top 15.

"It's tough for anyone to be out there alone, so I am pretty proud of her for that," Coach Ditmar said of Cole in the high school meet.

Now the team plans on focusing on qualifying every member for state.

 

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