The Middle School Cross Country team is available to students grades 5 through 8. This foundational stage of development is the most important level of learning for our Basketball program, and includes:

  1. Spiritual emphasis (developing Christian character)
  2. Respect for authority (coaches, teachers, parents, etc.)
  3. Developing a consistent work ethic
  4. Preparing athletes to work together as a team (team concepts, encourage, motivate)
  5. Fundamentals of Cross Country Running (individual skills)
  6. Learning strategies of Cross Country Running (terminology)
  7. Prepare GCS athletes for Varsity Cross Country Program
  8. Teaching healthy competition (learning how to be aggressive within the rules of the game)

Middle school Cross Country gives us an opportunity to introduce and teach the fundamental aspects of running and stretching.

Middle School Cross Country teams practice/or play at least 4x a week. Wednesday is normally the off day for Middle School Cross Country practice.

The privilege to wear the GCS Varsity Cross Country uniform is reserved for our top athletes, grades 7 – 12, who have mastered fundamentals with an increased intensity for excellence, competition, and complexity of Cross Country strategies. Varsity Cross Country athletes demonstrate a consistent display of the core Christlike character traits of our athletic program: Diligence, Endurance, Boldness, Obedience, Faith, Humility, and Dependability.

Varsity Cross Country runners must be prepared to compete for their role on the team and work to keep it. Seniority of a player is not a factor. Our Varsity Cross Country runners are judged on athletic ability, work ethic, attitude, and knowledge of the coach’s strategies.

Competing to win is strongly emphasized, without sacrificing the display and the development of Christ-like character. GCS Varsity Cross Country athletes are expected to act accordingly to their roles on the team, and contribute unselfishly in accordance with their abilities. Playing time will be determined solely by the coach/coaches. Coaches will not discuss playing time or strategy.

Varsity Cross Country team practices/or competes at least 5x a week with possible Saturday practices and meets.

Cross Country Coaches

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    Coach Casey

    Men's Varsity Cross Country Head Coach
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    Coach Lenz

    Women's Varsity Cross Country Head Coach / Men's Varsity Assistant Coach
  • Coach Stalter

    MS Cross Country Head Coach

Cross Country Tryouts

The GCS Cross Country Program runs during our Fall competition season, with tryouts and practices beginning during the summer. If you’d like more information about the GCS Cross Country Program, or to register for tryouts, please contact our Athletic Director.

Athletic Director

Nate Rhine

Cross Country Camps 

GCS hosts a Cross Country Camp each summer for 5th through 12th grade.

The purpose of the camp is to work on individual skills and help runners prepare for the Fall season. 

Facilities

The Grace Campus serves as the primary facility for our Cross Country team as we host meets that use a majority of our campus to make up our 3.1 mile course. Our Varsity team also practices and hosts meets at Kiwanis Park.

grace christian school cross country

Championship Records

Men’s Varsity Cross Country

  • Conference Champions: 2013

Women’s Varsity Cross Country

  • Conference Champions: 2011, 2013, 2017, 2021
  • Conference Tournament Champions: 2021

Boys’ Middle School Cross Country

  • Conference Tournament Champions: 2021

Girls’ Middle School Cross Country

  • Conference Tournament Champions: 2021

Annual Awards

Players from each team are selected for the following annual awards:

  • Most Valuable Player
  • Most Improved Player
  • Endurance Award
  • Coach’s Award
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