Corsicana —
It’s no surprise that the intensity involving Tigers cross country has increased ten fold the last few years since Bobby August took over the program.
August brings a football coach’s mentality to the streets or course, depending on where the Tigers are running.
Just ask the team’s top two boys, senior Dustin Welch and sophomore Erik Gonzalez, who also play on the Tigers’ soccer team.
“He gets 110 percent of the credit,” Gonzalez said. “I wouldn’t be the athlete I am now without him. I’m not just a better soccer player, but I’m a better person in life.”
Welch said it’s all about devotion to the team.
“It seems like we’ve jumped to five times as many runners since coach August came in,” Welch said.
Welch and Gonzalez are the Tigers’ best two threats to place at Thursday’s District 16-4A Meet in Jacksonville.
Welch has a personal best time of 17:45 to take fifth place at the Elkhart Meet earlier this season. Gonzalez ran a 18:44 in the same meet to take 15th place.
Welch and Gonzalez are naturals in cross country because they both have grown up playing soccer, also known around the world as the beautiful game. A spectacle because the athletes never stop running.
Welch has been playing soccer since the sixth grade, but never had the time for track with other stuff like church activities. But he ran in the Jingle Bell Jog a few years ago and August pushed him to join the cross country team.
“I was like, ‘yes sir,’” Welch said.
Gonzalez has played soccer since the seventh grade and always liked running. So cross country was a natural fit.
“I want to keep running cross country out of high school,” Gonzalez said. “And have a good shot at running somewhere in college.”
The cross country season has prepared them for soccer, and taught them to finish the race no matter what.
“It’s phenomenal,” Welch said. “We go out there in soccer and everyone is dying when we run the mile for the first time.”
For the cross country guys, it’s a breeze.
“We run a mile to warm up,” Gonzalez said.
Sports
CHS Cross Country: Tigers seeing resurgence in program
Welch, Gonzalez lead the way into 16-4A meet
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