The Coshocton County Beacon September 10, 2020 | Page 4

4 • The Beacon September 10, 2020
CHS runners join forces with River View
cross country teams
By Josie Sellers
coshoctonbeacontoday.com
Every now and then a little
red and black is mixed in
with River View’s cross country
teams.
Because Coshocton High
School doesn’t have its own
team, freshman Jaden Jones and
juniors Kendall Jackson and
Autumn Jones are working with
River View. They train and race
alongside River View’s teams
but wear their school’s colors.
“It was my idea to do this,”
Jackson said. “I didn’t want to
run alone, so I had them come
with me.”
Jaden Jones jumped at the
chance so he could try to beat
his sister and Jackson. However,
Autumn Jones and Jackson
hoped it would help get all of
them ready for their swim season
at CHS.
“I’ve gone to open swims,
and I feel like my legs are more
powerful,” Autumn Jones said.
“I’m excited about that.”
Autumn Jones said so far the
cross country experience has
been pretty amazing. “I like that
it’s got me on a routine and staying
active,” she said.
They all agreed the River
View runners have been very
welcoming.
“We swim with them too,”
Jackson said. “They are super
accepting and really nice. We are
not separate teams. I did this to
swim better, but I’m loving cross
country.”
River View’s head coach
Gwenna Neal has made an
impact.
“
I am honored
that I can share
what cross country
has to offer with any
young person.
I am that confident
in the fact that cross
country changes
lives.
Gwenna
” Neal
“We have a well-informed
coach who knows a lot about the
sport,” Jackson said. “She builds
us up and helps us know what
we are doing.”
Autumn Jones said the sport
is intense, but she is loving it.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I might
be becoming a runner.”
Neal believes there is
so much to offer through the
sport of cross country that goes
beyond school colors or rivalry.
“The discipline and character
required to be successful
is a catalyst to close relationships
and mutual support,” Neal
said. “Our team dynamic is very
close-knit, so in 2016 when my
first group of CHS came to our
team, I had faith that the work
and the running would forge the
bonds necessary for success, and
I was proven right. Although our
CHS athletes compete in their
own uniform, we all benefit
from the camaraderie and the
competition. I am honored that I
can share what cross country has
to offer with any young person. I
am that confident in the fact that
cross country changes lives.”
Running Mates
Autumn Jones and Kendall Jackson (in red tops) are pictured
taking a warm up run with River View’s cross country team.