The 2011 cross country season is kicking off almost as fast as the shot of the starting gun. Coach Robert Molyet, head coach of the team this season, has high hopes and great plans for the athletes this year.
Running in a total of 7 races during the season, the runners will build up their endurance for the district meet, taking place during the last week of October. The Jesuit team will also compete in a race at Oklahoma State University, where top teams will be competing. During the regular season, experienced teams such as Southlake Carroll, Marcus, Flower Mound, and Plano East will challenge Jesuit for first place.
Coach Molyet believes that “these are some of the top teams in North Texas and will be a true test of how good we can be.” Indeed, the time will come at the district race when Jesuit will have to prove itself over those top competitors.
Coach Molyet, with goals in mind, plans to mold the individual cross country runners into a disciplined, united team. One goal for each athlete, Coach Molyet says, is to work on the six characteristics of the Jesuit Graduate.
“Obviously each athlete is physically fit, but as a team we are going to get involved in community service on our off weeks, weekly prayer services, and each athlete will have to remain academically eligible throughout the year,” Coach Molyet explains. “In order for us to be considered one of the top teams, every athlete will need to be open to new ideas on how to train and run their races.” The final characteristic, ‘loving,’ Coach explains, “must be met because that is how you define a great team: the willingness to care about and trust your teammate.”
The ideal cross country runner, in Coach Molyet’s eyes, has, “unbelievable dedication, is mentally focused, and is willing to push his body when the mind says stop.” Coach also believes his athletes must balance their training, academics, social life, and spiritual life. According to Coach Molyet, “this takes great dedication and is what makes each athlete very special.”
This past Saturday, August 27, the team ran its first meet at the Frisco Invitational. Both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams finished 2nd place overall in the 5K race and, “ran an outstanding race,” according to Coach Molyet. Because some teams ran a single pack, encouraging and boosting their own teammates, Coach Molyet believes the Jesuit cross country team should run together during a race in order to succeed in future meets.
“We were not perfect,” said Coach Molyet regarding the Frisco race, “because we made some errors, and we need to work together more as a team.” Despite those setbacks, Coach Molyet congratulated the team on achieving the goal of finishing in the top standings at the meet.
With six more races until the district meet, the Jesuit cross country team has ‘hit the ground running,’ both figuratively and literally. “I am looking forward to watching as the boys mature into a championship caliber team” says Coach Molyet. The next meet to test each runner’s skills, the Marcus I Meet, is scheduled for Saturday, September 3, in Denton. Go Rangers!
