The Menchville Monarch’s Cross Country team started their season quietly in the middle of July running on the Noland Trail every morning at 7:30. Now, many months, and invitational wins later, Menchville prepares to bid adieu to the senior runners that have helped to shape the team over the past seasons. On Wednesday, September 25th, the Monarch’s hosted their last home meet of the year, and celebrated the Monarch seniors.

The 2:05 bell rang and cross country runners rushed to put on their jerseys and gather at Riverview Park for their four o’clock meet. Cross Country coaches Dennis Zolicoffer and Patrick Day quickly wrangled up the team, sending numerous runners out for short workouts, a ploy to keep seniors occupied as the other runners  decorated a pavilion to help celebrate. Underclassmen had stayed after practice the day before to make posters and they were all now hanging them across the pavilion. Meanwhile, parents and other team members filled senior gift bags with candies, Gatorades and movie tickets, as well as many other treats and goodies.

After the race, the Monarch’s gathered under the decorated pavilion to celebrate. Senior girls dressed in purple tutus and cat ear headbands and senior boys with 2020 written across their back gathered with the underclassmen and parents to eat cookies, and chips, and of course get their gift bags. Zolicoffer and Day called seniors up one by one to accept their gift bags. The honored seniors were (personal best times in parentheses): Mikayla Hartman(27:11), Emme Batcha(24:34), Marina Emblidge(24:55), Hannah Ferguson(22:24), Ana Martinez(22:34), Lauren Satchell(22:05) and Ari Riddick(19:20). From the boys team the honored seniors were: Qua Thomas(19:35), Davin Fermaintt(18:54), Janah Beverly(18:36) and James Aldridge(16:44).

All in all, the meet was a great time for cross country runners to hangout and celebrate the seniors who have been running with Menchville.