McNary High School, home of the Celtics, competes in Oregon's 6A division. Located in Keizer, Oregon near the state capital of Salem, the team had a morning practice at Keizer Rapids Park. The practice was an easy day of running through the woods as they were planning on a mile time trial the following day at Bush Park in Salem. Coach Josh Christensen shared information about his team.
During the summer season, how often does the team practice?
We meet three days a week during the summer.
What are some special summer activities?
We aren't doing a true camp this year, but we are going to have a week where we meet for four days at new locations around the mid-valley.
How do you build team culture?
We emphasize the manta "Love Your Teammates". I do my best to model this for our athletes, but this attitude is only as effective as athlete's choose to make it. I'm fortunate to be a part of a community that truly cares about one another. They celebrate victories together, they pick one another up after a disappointing race, and many of them have become really close outside of running.
What are some events that the team is looking forward to in the fall season?
You'd have to ask them, but I think there are a few meets that many runners have circled on their calendar as well as a few of our key workouts that the team has come to enjoy and look forward to.
Athletes Jocelyn Schnurbusch, Hayden Claypool and Kailyn Bollman-Lechner shared insights about their team.
What are you looking forward to in the summer with McNary Cross Country?
Hayden: I think just bonding with our team. Our team is a unit and we are just one big family that every time we come to practice or spend time with each other is fun. We just have fun because we are so close.
Jocelyn: Yes, like Hayden just said, we get to hang out with all of our teammates because we are just like family. Also, the training throughout the summer helps me see what I can accomplish this season.
Kailyn: I feel like I am getting a head start on things and feels very productive to do it during the summer too. That is why I like coming to the summer practices.
What are you looking forward to during the season?
Hayden: When we in our season, our coach likes to shred our past times if we get a bigger PR. He will write down our past PRs on a piece of paper and put in a paper shredder and say, 'You beat this PR!' He will put it in the shredder and it will represent that we beat our past time.
Jocelyn: I am looking forward to all the meets we are going to. We also do a pancake run where we do a fundraiser. We run around the track for an hour. Parents make pancakes while we are running and sell the pancakes for a dollar. We are running around the track for an hour.
Anything else you want to add?
Hayden: Go Celts!
Kailyn: Go Big Blue!
Check out their practice photos HERE
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