Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News The Northfield High Cross Country team. From Left: Josh Griffin(Soph), Pat Amell(soph), Danny Rowe(Sr.),Nathaniel Mcjeski(Sr.),Emily Martin(Sr.),James Kelley(Sr.),Ryan Gage(Jr.),Asa Connor(Jr.),Kate Skinas(soph), Ann Bushey(Coach) Missingfrom photo coach Whitney Machnik. The Marauders first meet is at Lamoille Sept. 8. Northfield High's Cross Country team has already hit the road toward their upcoming season.

They can be found running the five mile loop around Berlin Pond almost every morning.

The Berlin pond road is an ideal training ground for the 4 Seniors, 2 Juniors and 3 sophomores that make up this year's team. The gravel road has almost all of the up and down and straightaway conditions that the runners will encounter during the season and it's length is nearly twice as long as the regular season 3.1 mile courses the athletes will run. The west side of the pond has numerous hills of varying sizes and the east side is a very long straightway so the Marauder Harriers should be well prepared when the season gets underway Sept. 8 at Lamoille.

The Marauders don't have a home course. Their closest meets will be at U-32 on Sept. 22 and Oct. 6.

Not having a "home field" doesn't mean they wont see some friendly faces, however. Once again this year the Northfield runners will share busses with Randolph Union High School and Whitcomb High, of Bethel.

"We all root for each other, this sport is more like camaraderie than competition," said coach Ann Bushey.

Cross Country is truly an individual sport and while each runner came to the sport for a different reason they all agree that they love it.

Senior Emily Martin started out to use X-country as training for basketball it has developed into much more than that. "It started out like that, but now it's so free spirited. I didn't think it would be like this, but it is. I love running. There is a team aspect but there is also a lot of individual work ethic here, too," Emily said.

Senior Danny Rowe does use Cross Country as training for basketball but he has developed a deep appreciation for running. "There's a different mentality here." He said. "You can be an individual and try to beat your own best time. Once you finish a race you really feel good."

Kate Skinis said she gets a different feeling when she runs as opposed to when she played20soccer. "There's less pressure than during the soccer games with everyone watching and yelling," the sophomore said. " It's more like no winning or losing, really."

In addition to the 11 meets that the Marauder Harriers will travel to they will also host a "Home Meet" of sorts.

It's called the Northfield 10 mile club, held during the second week in October (TBA) and is open to all comers. The meet consists of two laps around Berlin pond and is a fun event. "When you finish the ten miler," said Danny Rowe. "It's like Wow I just did that! It's amazing."