RHS junior Albert Worsham is only one of many cross country runners lacing up their shoes for another demanding season this year, and just like in years past, the road to league finals or even state is as much a race as any single 5k competition they may face.

Every runner knows that the work they put in yesterday, last week, or even several months ago is vital to their success against their competition tomorrow – it is all a matter of who can build their fitness faster.

However, unlike in previous years, this season will bring about a lot of new changes that these steadfast runners will need to adapt to.

For one, the competitors themselves have changed a great deal from last year, with Woodcreek and Nevada Union leaving the league, and Whitney replacing them.

“I feel like Whitney is our greatest competition this season, since we lost maybe our one or two guy, and they have a solid top five,” Albert said.

This, on top of the fact that three other “top seven” varsity runners from last year are not returning this season, means a lot of new matchups out on the racecourse are imminent.

However, this year’s switch-up of new teams and runners does not only affect this season’s competition, but also the underlying League structure itself.

Since one of the three league meets from last year used to be held at Nevada Union (now no longer a part of the league), this means that there will now only be two league meets remaining – one at Willow Hills in Folsom, and League Finals held at Johnson Springview Park in Rocklin.

Since the title of League Champion is determined by an accumulation of a team’s points throughout every league meet, with League finals counting double, this will put even more weighted pressure on the teams to perform well at League Finals, without another race worth of points to be able to fall back on at Nevada Union.

Finally, a new lineup of coaches this year could put another interesting twist on the team’s training.

Coach Daniel Pereira retired last year, having helped lead both girl’s and boy’s teams to state, to spend more time with family. This left the other head Coach, Chris Knorzer, fully in charge of the program, and a new assistant coach, Erika Barr, to help out with her experienced running background.

“I’ve been running since high school, and I’ve always wanted to coach… I’m really excited for this weekend, (Aug. 25) because it’s their first meet of the season,” Barr said .

Despite all the changes this year is bringing to the cross country season, the RHS runners are tackling it the same way they always do. One practice, one step at a time.