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With only three returners from last year, the McDonald County High School cross country program heads into a rebuilding year that includes a completely new coaching staff. Head coach Ashleigh McFarland and assistant coach Joseph Beechner have only Anna Belle Price, Malaysia McCrory and Cross Spencer back from the 2019 season. "We had five kids, sometimes six, showing up consistently all summer," McFarland said. "I think they will do really well. My goal for the season is to have a full team — seven boys and seven girls, but I would take five of each. We are going to have to do some heavy recruiting to get some kids to come out so we can compete as a team and not just as indi- viduals." McFarland said freshmen boys Lane Pratt, Dylan Ferdig and Ayden Ball have been regular attendees at summer work- outs, along with Price and freshman Madison Burton. "Lane, Dylan and Ayden have showed up every single day since summer work- outs started," McFarland said. "They work really hard and push each other. They really want to be there." It was later in the summer before Price had a teammate on the girls' side. "Madison came the last half of the summer," McFarland said. "She shows a lot of potential. Anna Belle is a hard worker. She is running with the boys right now. I have a lot of hope for her. Madison will learn a lot running under her wing." McFarland said she has set some indi- vidual goals for both the boys and girls. "For the boys, I would say my goal is for them to run a sub-21 (minutes for a 5K); and for the girls, I would like to see them go sub-24," McFarland said. "Right now they are not quite there, but they also have never trained for a 5K (3.1 miles). Last year (junior high), the farthest they ran was two miles and now they are going to have to run three miles every race." McFarland said, with school being all online last spring due to covid-19, getting to meet the kids and get them involved in the program has been a challenge. "I have been told a lot of the kids signed up can't get rides right now," McFar- land said. "I know they have the activity buses, but they have to be able to get to the junior high to get on the bus. I think when school starts, I will have another handful and that will be awesome. They are just going to be a few weeks behind in training." McFarland said, even with such few numbers to start, she is excited about the upcoming year and the future of the program. "It will be great if we can keep all these young kids together," McFarland said. "Then we will have a very strong program. We just have to build and rebuild right now." McDonald County opens its season with a "warm-up" meet on Aug. 29 at South Middle School in Joplin hosted by Carthage High School. The first official meet of the season is set for Sept. 10 at Seneca. "I am excited to see what they can do," McFarland said. "I think we need to get the first race under us to see where we are at. We can make a game plan to improve each one from there." Thursday, August 27, 2020 McDonald County Press 11C F a l l S p o r t S p r e v i e w New Coaching Staff And Year To Rebuild Rick Peck Special to McDonald County Press 2020 Mustangs Cross Country sChedule Date Opponent Level Time Aug. 29 at Carthage Warm Up Varsity/JV 9 a.m. Sept. 10 at Seneca Varsity/JV TBA Sept. 15 at Monett Varsity/JV 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at Nixa Varsity/JV TBA Sept. 26 at East Newton Varsity/JV 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at Lamar JV 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Cassville Varsity/JV 4 p.m. Oct. 19 Big 8 Conf. Meet at Nixa Varsity 4 p.m. Oct. 24 Districts at TBA Varsity TBA Oct. 31 Sectionals at TBA Varsity TBA Nov. 7 State at Oak Hill Golf Course Jefferson City TBA RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS The 2020 McDonald County High School boys' and girls' cross country teams. Front row, left to right: Anna Belle Price, Melysia McCrory and Madison Burton. Back row: Dylan Ferdig, Gunner Cooper, Cross Spencer, Lane Pratt and Ayden Ball. Cross Country roster Boys Name Grade Cross Spencer 10 Dylan Ferdig 9 Gunner Cooper 9 Lane Pratt 9 Ayden Ball 9 Girls Name Grade Anna Belle Price 10 Malaysia McCrory 10 Madison Burton 9