Fall is synonymous with Cross Country. The crisp air, crunchy leaves, and temperate weather make for a perfect venue for the endurance sport. This year, the Warriors are ready to rip through the autumn atmosphere as a new season begins. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams are stacked with raw and refined talent, making them formidable opponents at any meet. Coach Nicholas Cluster is returning to lead the squad, producing multiple collegiate-level runners over his years as head coach. All things considered, North Atlanta should be poised for a big season.
Running in the footsteps of great North Atlanta athletes before them like Teddy Meredith and Sumner Kirsch, the Boys team has an impressive roster for 2024. The group is highlighted by senior Cam Shapiro, junior Cabell Townsend, and junior Grant Benner who all boast sub-5-minute miles. In their first meet, Shapiro placed 31st out of 249 runners in the boy’s 5k with a time of 16 minutes and 17 seconds. “It was a competitive first meet and I believe everybody did well,” said Shapiro. “Hopefully we can all build on our performances in our next couple of runs.”
The girls team has also seen massive success on the trails over the past years, including a 2021 state championship. They are looking to return to glory their prior glory with the help of junior Scottie Brown, senior Isabella Mocek-Elrod, sophomore Gwenyth Ferguson, and senior Olivia Massar. This group of girls sported huge times at their first meet including a top-15 finish by Ferguson with a time of 19 minutes and 36 seconds. “We have big aspirations for this season,” said Mocek-Elrod. “We run hard every single day with hopes of making it back to the top in November.”
With ten more meets lined up for the rest of the season (not including regionals and states), North Atlanta has a long, hard road ahead of them. Maynard Jackson, Midtown, and Mays High School have proven to be fierce competitors in the region, with multiple runners placing high in the first APS meet. However, for North Atlanta, the only obstacle in their way is the tape at the finish line.
