Cross Country is a sport in which individuals compete in races on a sprawling route over grass and dirt, which are normally 4 to 12 kilometers long. The terrain may consist of open fields and woodlands, a variety of hills, or other small obstacles. This is not to be confused with Track and Field, which takes place on a flat surface, typically an all-weather track.
As the cross country season came to a close, many promising stars rose to lead the Track and Field team in the winter. Although many believe the two to be interchangeable, the sports have some key differences.
Mason Barlow, a senior who runs on both the Greeley Cross Country and Track and Field Teams, highlighted some of the key components of cross country, noting, “Cross country has no separate events. There is a main race, and a freshmen race. Freshmen run a shorter race. It’s not only the distances you have to account for. It’s the terrain that you are on. You have to account for hills, and have to specifically train to be a long-distance runner. It’s pretty much exclusively that.”

However, this proves to be in sharp contrast with Track and Field. Although track has many running events, these events are not limited to only long distance, and may include hurdles, sprints, and middle relays. Jumping events include long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault. There are also throwing events, including discus, shot put, javelin, and hammer throw. Gabby Kogan, junior, prefers track and field. “It’s much more interesting. There is more variety in the events, and you can have a variety of runners. You can run according to your abilities.”
Each of those abilities also need to be trained specifically. Track training frequently emphasizes speed work and technique because it typically involves shorter distances and faster speeds. Cross country training, on the other hand, often entails longer distance runs, tempo runs, and short bursts of speed work because it is genuinely an endurance and strength sport.
Using the Greeley Fitness Center, the teams have been able to hone these running styles. Among those hard-working athletes is Anthony Ruscgiano, a frequent visitor of the fitness center and member of both the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He added, “I do mostly band work. I try to increase my mobility and agility for both. For me, both sports give me equal amounts of interest.”
Although differences may exist between the two sports, the love these Greeley students hold for them evidently thrives for both, as the Quakers look ahead to a bright future for Cross Country and Track and Field runners.