Lakeland Boys Cross-Country Team Looks to Build on Last Year's Success

The first year as the head coach of the Lakeland boys cross-country team was a memorable one for Joe Verellen. But the 2011 season could be even more successful.

The Eagles return six of their top seven runners from a team that finished 15^th in the state finals last year at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Lakeland competes in one of the most challenging leagues for cross-country in the state, as fellow KLAA North squads Waterford Mott and Walled Lake Northern also finished in the top 19. 

Lakeland may be the team to beat this year, and it starts with senior Garret Zuk, who just missed qualifying as an All-State performer for the Eagles. Zuk was an All-State performer in the 2-mile race during the 2011 spring track season. 

Other top Lakeland runners include seniors Brian Carrigan, Craig Dudley and Scott Ness. Junior Grayson Thomas is also expected to be one of the squad’s top five runners. 

“We have really good depth this year too, and I like our experience,” Verellen said. 

And experience does matter. While an underclassmen who has the physical skills has a better chance to compete at a high level among other varsity competitors than in a sport such as football, cross-country does inflict a physical toll on its runners. Upperclassmen have more experience in preparing and training for the season ahead, as well as gaining strength in their legs. 

“The more mature you are and experience you have, the more you know what it takes to succeed and prepare for the year,” Verellen said. 

Lakeland’s runners have been training together throughout the summer, a pattern that began the day after school ended in June. The goal of summer training is to harden your body in a way so that it can withstand the force during a race and intense workouts. 

“We want to build our core strength as runners with such exercises as sit-ups and push-ups and other back exercises,” Verellen said. “As a runner, your body takes a physical pounding.” 

In fact, the most common injury for cross-country runners is caused by overuse and can mean stress fractures of the feet, shins and occasionally the femur, Verellen said. It is the repetitive pounding that makes an impact. 

Yet all Verellen has seen thus far this summer is improvement and, knock on wood, no such injuries, he said.

The Eagles are considered the favorites to capture a division title in the KLAA North. Lakeland will also compete in several invitationals on the weekends. 

“Last year was a great morale booster, because with me being in my first year as the head coach the guys didn’t know what to expect,” Verellen said. “But we had a lot of success and they began to trust me. Now we’ve had enough success so that there is now a snowball effect.” 

Lakeland hopes to get back to the state finals at MIS this year and will have to qualify through a different regional in Brighton at the end of October.