There is no secret to the fact that cross-country is not an easy sport.
Keeping rosters filled is a tough challenge from year to year for coaches.
However, the Greenbrier East program under head coach Robert McClintic, who is now in his third year, is seeing better numbers and starting to flourish.
“We have more kids out and we are excited,” McClintic said. “On the girls side we have all of our top-five back and we have some freshman that have come up that can help us immensely. We also have a couple of first year runners and several new boys out this year. We are just trying to build a program.”
The girls team over the last two years has qualified for the state meet and their success appears to be building interest on the boys side.
“I think their success has helped and track as well. A lot of these kids running cross-country ran track for us,” McClintic said. “Last year we had 14 boys running track and that has carried over to cross-country. We are excited about that and hopefully it will help the track season as well.”
Sophomore Neena McClintic, the coaches daughter, leads the girls team after exploding onto the cross-country seen last year.
The reigning Lootpress Female Cross-Country Runner of the Year captured the Class AAA Region 3 individual title as a freshman, setting a new course record in the process.
“Neena, physically is much better. Mentally she is still a sophomore. The freshman year last year was a lot to take in,” McClintic said. “You can’t put too much pressure on yourself, so our focus is to stay relaxed and work hard. Hard work will pay off.”
McClintic was primed for a strong run in the state meet before being hampered by illness. The young phenom still managed to place 23rd among 90 runners.
“Last year we found out right after the state meet that she had Covid,” McClintic explained. “She didn’t have the run she had hoped for, but we didn’t find out about it until after the race. You learn from things like that.”
Having a strong lead runner is key, but team success involves all five athletes, and sometimes six, performing for the overall team total.
“Neena will definitely lead our team, but we will have a push this year. We have Luella (Mansheim) who is our lone senior and we are excited for her,” McClintic said. “She ran No. 2 for us last year. We think she can do that again, but she has several people pushing.”
Mansheim finished top-10 at the regional meet, followed by junior Maddie Lilly (12th), sophomore Noelle McClintic (15th) and Kate Adkins (16th).
“Maddie, Noelle, Kate and Jillian Styles, the freshman coming up, are running really good and some of them worked really hard in the summer months,” McClintic said. “Our goal is to get the top-five pushing each other and if we have a different No. 2 each week, then I know we are competing.”
Carter Wolfe returns for her junior season as well and is expected to be in the mix for the Spartans.
“Carter will help us out. It is great competition and it is a toss up right now,” McClintic said. “If we can get them feeding off of each other we will have a great season.”
The boys team will be anchored by senior Jackson Carter who ran 15th last year at the regional meet against stiff competition.
“Jackson has been running great splits in practice. If we can get that carried over to a meet, he will do great,” McClintic said. “Robby White who ran for us in track season is doing some amazing work and so is Sam Hawver. Sam does a lot of biking and is first year runner for us. I’m excited.”
Kaydom Broihier is back along with freshman Grayson Adams who is expected to be a force after running well in middle school.
“It is early, but if we can stay healthy I think we can be competitive,” McClintic said. “Our goal is to make the top-3 in the regional. We found out the regional meet will be in Beckley and I like that. I like the Beckley course. It is a tough course, but our course is a tough course as well. We are used to running on rolling hills.”
Greenbrier East will open the season in Beckley at the annual Chick-Fil-A Invitational on Aug. 24.
