Cross Country: Striding towards the next level

There is a different look to the Bettendorf cross country team this season. After the retirement of former girls cross country coach Erin Flynn, the boys and girls teams have combined into one team. 

“This year feels different because Coach Flynn isn’t there,” said Emily See, the top female runner for the Bulldogs.

Along with the loss of Flynn, the girls cross country team graduated 22 runners.

“We lost a lot of our seniors, so it’s definitely been a change. To fill in the upperclassmen role has been different,” said See.

 While the team is unranked, smaller and perhaps less talented than past years, the bar may be set a little lower. 

“For the team I would just like for us to try our hardest at every meet,” See said.

On the boys side of things, runner Chase Wakefield has high hopes for the season. Wakefield believes the team can be one of the best Bulldog teams in a while.

 “We’re hoping to qualify for the state meet as a team this year, I know that hasn’t been done in a while,” said Wakefield. 

 To do this, the team will need to be healthy. To address this, the team has stressed the recovery factor to make sure that everybody is feeling good for the races. 

“The preseason has looked pretty good, we’ve had some young guys running good workouts and good returning runners,” Wakefield said. 

This season, Wakefield has high hopes not only for the team, but for himself as well. Some of his goals include finishing in the top 20 at the state meet, and running a 5k in 16 minutes. 

Coach Dave Terronez believes that his team can be the best team he’s had in his seven years coaching for Bettendorf. The biggest difference with this group? Work ethic.

“The biggest difference with this team is the consistency of showing up not just to run, but to work. They do the extra things that I believe will make this season special,” Terronez said. 

All in all, teamwork is the primary point stressed by not only coaches, but teammates as well. 

“When we care more about the team less than our individual accomplishments, we will take the team to the next level,” said Terronez.