Injuries in any sport could make for a disastrous season, but the Lady Saints cross country team didn’t allow injuries to derail their chances this fall. Instead, they chose to fight through their injuries and finished sixth in the state.

It is common for runners to run through injuries, Lady Saints coach Karen Norman said. She is glad to have coached a strong group of runners that ran through not only injuries but also extreme heat this year.

“I coach a wonderful group of young, motivated runners,” Norman said. “This season has been particularly brutal, because of the heat. Cross country runners always look forward to cool, if not cold weather.”

In 2014, the Lady Saints finished sixth in the state. Last year, they improved and finished third in the state.

Norman is excited about the runners returning next year, which include all of her top-five runners. She also has some talented seventh-graders moving up.

“My girls’ JV team finished first in TCIS after completing an undefeated season against TCIS teams,” Norman said. “Three of the girls are ranked in the top 15 in the state for seventh-graders. And we have the top-ranked sixth grader in the state. Our future is bright.”

Kaylee Moore, a junior and the team captain, was named to the all-state cross-country team this week. Peyton Harrell, an eighth-grader, was also named to the all-state cross country team. Harrell is also ranked fifth out of 200 girls in the state for all eighth-graders, public and private schools.

Next year, as the team comes back healthier and runners get better, Norman hopes NSA will finish in the top spot.