Girl's Cross Country Season Preview: Caldwell looks to help with team coronation

By Ben Spector
Winning After MidKnight

 

MIDDLETOWN-It would be foolish for the team aspect of cross country to be ignored in most cases. After all the team championships get banners in high school gyms while individual state championships will only hold weight to the individuals who won them.

Holding this mentality still it would be awful difficult to ignore the impact that Middletown senior Reilly Caldwell has had on the whole Middletown High School Knights Girl’s Cross Country team. And, now as Cadlwell heads into her senior, she has in her sights one final ride into the dust that would cap off what has been one of the best Middletown Cross Country careers in the 21^st Century.

Caldwell, by herself, has been a game changer for the Knights as her determination to succeed and her relentless work ethic has clearly shown up in how the results come back after her meets. On-the-course, Caldwell’s consistency and solid string of results over the past three years have labeled her as one of the top runners in Frederick County and someone who is going to consistently compete for state championships.

But, what she has done for the team off the field is the most unseen but might be the most important for the success of the Knights. The Knights as a whole have become a stronger group and Middletown in turn has seen their results swing upwards in recent years something that the Knights hope will continue into this year as with Caldwell graduating this could be Middletown’s last chance to make a move as a serious state championship contender.

The Knights will get that quest for a state championship started on Saturday September 3^rd and Caldwell look to continue her role as a steady hand who can be called on to deliver results for the team at any time during the season.

Caldwell’s role as a cool, calm hand was never more evident than the 2015-2016 season as during her ten meets that year she in the top four on eight of those occasions and in the top fifteen in nine of the ten meets that she participated in. But, the Knights will need more help than just Caldwell and that is where Middletown may surprise some people.

Unknown to most and perhaps a secret weapon the Knights have three runners who although not at the level of Caldwell yet will be able to put together some solid performances and allow Middletown to go after their team goals.

The three runners who will have the best shot at doing this are juniors Abbe Pannucci and Sophia Stafford and sophomore Marilyn Fisher. All three runners finished within five minutes of the total’s that Caldwell put up at all three distances last year and should be able to help Caldwell carry the load for the Knights.

For Caldwell, this represents a last shot for her as her high school career comes to an end but also a chance at a coronation, that is within reach with just a little help from her team.