For most people, taking a couple of laps around the golf course doesn't exactly sound appealing. In fact, most people could probably think of a hundred other things that they would rather do. From this, we can draw the conclusion that it takes something special to be a cross country runner.

Like most cross country runners, the runners at Nemaha Valley displayed this "something special" and proved it through their determination and will to succeed. In a sense, cross country is one of the least rewarding sports, in that often times the runners had to compete in rainy and cold weather with little, if any, crowd support or spectators. For this reason, it made determination all the more important to the runners.

"In order to be good at a sport like cross country you have to be dedicated. It's not like most sports where someone is pushing you all the time; you have to decide what you want to put into it and get out of it," Shane Osterhaus, jr., said.

Hours of practice filled with countless miles and different running drills prepared the team for all the different meets. As a whole, the Raider Cross Country team had a good year. Two of the members, Shane Osterhaus and Crissy Heinen, made it to state.

"I really enjoyed my years of competing in cross country. I wish I could have done better at state, but altogether it was a good season," Crissy Heinen, sr., said. - Kris