Comanche cross country prepares for upcoming schedule

By Todd Brooks

Preparing for this year’s cross country season has been a challenge since school started with triple-digit temperatures during practice time.

“During the summer we would run early in the morning when it was a lot cooler, so we were doing some pretty long runs,” said Jason Miller, Comanche coach. “We were getting close to six miles on some stuff, running for over 40 minutes.”

That all changed once school started last week and the practice time switched to 2:30 p.m. during the school day.

“It’s just a killer right now,” Miller said. “We’ve kind of modified to where we go out for about 10 or 15 minutes to acclimate to the heat and then come in (the fitness center) and do some distance on the treadmill. So, we’re still trying to get our endurance built up, but it’s just not safe to stay outside that long and run that hard.”

The boys’ team returns some experience as they will attempt to make it to the state meet for the second year in a row as a team.

“I think we’ll be okay, we’ve got some pretty good kids,” Miller said. “We’ve got some on that team from last year.”

Gage Jessen returns for his senior year and Aiden Frye is back as a sophomore. Frye placed 24th at the state qualifer meet and was 63rd at the Class 3A State Meet.

“He’s our best and most consistent runner right now from last year’s team. And then right behind him is Maksig Rogers. Hayden Harget is back from last year as well. I’ve also got a couple of new kids that are trying it. A couple of them are wrestlers.”

On the girls’ side, Brilee Combs is not just the only returning runner from last year, she is the only high school girls’ runner on the team.

Combs finished sixth at the Class 3A state qualifier and 19th at the Class 3A State Meet in 2023.

The teams will open the season this Saturday at a course laid out at New Hope Baptist Church West in Duncan. The first race should start at 8:30 a.m.

“That will help us because it’s going to be cooler in themorning and the high school runs before the middle school, so they’ll get it out of the way,” Miller said. “And even if it is hot in the morning, it will still be cooler than the afternoon would be and we’ll be used to that. My middle school’s got it made right now. I’ve got a bunch of new kids, but they run first hour, so it’s perfect for them.”