Clara McGarvey, 8th grade, Features Editor
Through the multi-colored leaves, the Noe Middle School girls’ cross country team zips through the trees – 10 red singlets barreling towards the finish line, showing everyone what victory looks like.
The girls’ cross country team has won every meet it has competed in this season, including the prestigious Rumble in the Jungle hosted by North Oldham Middle School and most recently, the Gatorland Invitational in Bowling Green, hosted by Greenwood high school.
Two eighth-graders lead the team – Eloise Roth and Adelaide McDonald. Their hard work and determination has made this year’s team the top ranked middle school in Kentucky. They also helped lead last year’s team to the 2024 state championship.
McDonald feels the pressure to repeat as state champions, but is handling it well.
“Kind of but not too much,” McDonald said. “Because everyone is always cheering you on and even if you don’t do well everyone will still have your back.”
McDonald hopes to lead the team in a sprint to the finish line at state October 18 in Lexington.
Roth has been Noe’s second runner this season and has helped the team win its meets easily, including its most recent victory in Bowling Green in which the Cougars placed six runners in the top 10 and 10 runners in the top 20.
“Eloise has really moved up these last couple of races and is only 10 seconds behind Adelaide,” Head coach Dave Powell said.
Roth is determined to keep chasing down McDonald. They are competitors by foot and friends by heart.
“We are really good friends outside of cross country so it’s not that I’m following in her footsteps, I’m just practicing with her and it is something to work toward and a reminder of what I can work toward (or accomplish),” Roth said.
Both runners are striving for excellence this year and are determined to win a second straight state championship.
In addition to McDonald and Roth, eighth-graders MacKenzie Packwood, Gabriela Sanchez, Clara McGarvey, and Liliana Ucan Shadle round out Noe’s top seven runners. The future is bright as well, as seven of the next top 10 runners are sixth- or seventh-graders.
Editor’s Note: Features Editor Clara McGarvey is a member of the Noe girls’ cross country team.
