PENDLETON — The Pendleton Heights High School girls cross country team will be young, but head coach Melissa Hagerman cautions people not to make any assumptions.
With a team comprised of mostly freshmen and sophomores — and only six upperclassmen — she said she has high hopes for the season.
“Summer conditioning has been great, and I just complimented our freshmen, who have hardly missed a day of conditioning, even though it’s not mandatory,” Hagerman said.
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The team is expected to be led by sophomore Maddie McKee, who has posted the best times of the returning runners during the offseason. Several freshmen also are running right along with her during summer workouts, she said.
McKee and some of the young runners will surprise the competition, Hagerman said.
She said she also expects senior Riley Hays, who’s battled health issues through the years, to have a good senior season.
It’s exciting, Hagerman said, to see so many of the younger runners working so hard, trying to get the team back to the level they prefer — running as one of the top teams in Madison County and the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
Last year, the Arabians didn’t win the conference, county, sectional or regional titles, something past Pendleton Heights cross country teams have accomplished.
“We want to win back that conference title, that’s for sure,” Hagerman said.
The goal will be even more challenging this season, particularly with such a young team, coupled with the fact Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers are moving into the Arabians’ sectional.
Still, Hagerman said, she and the runners are optimistic and will go for top finishes in all meets.
Runners need to be on a consistent schedule, she said, and that’s why the regular summer workouts are expected to pay off this season.
The more experienced runners have done a good job of setting the tone for the program, Hagerman said.
Hagerman is a Pendleton Heights Middle School teacher and former competitive runner who has watched and worked with both of her children and has seen them have success with the Arabians in running and basketball during her 15 years of coaching.
This year’s Pendleton Heights girls cross country team includes seniors Riley Hays and Elizabeth Welpott; juniors Jenna Blackwell, Betsy McKinney, Kylah Stout and Jillian Youtsey; sophomores Madison Brunnemer, Payton Brunnemer, Sy Carter and Maddie McKee; and freshmen Haleigh Auler, Hailee Brunnemer, Delaney Busby, Ella Dixon, Catherine Dudley, Kaleigh Edmundson, Katie Jones, Zoe Kesler, Berkeley Lord, Lanie Ricker and Claire Wittkamper.
The Arabians are slated to open their season at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Hokum Karem at Hamilton Southeastern.