Jessica Wallace and Mick Stanovsek were both named conference runners of the year in Cross Country. Wallace and Stanovsek along with Aaron Parker competed in the state competition the first weekend of November.

Ronnie Hudgins has been the head coach of the FFHS Cross Country team for eight seasons. The team has faced challenges this year as six of the top seven girls did not return for the 2012 season.

“There was a high number of new members on the team and the runners continued to improve throughout the season,” Hudgins said. “Wallace led the girls team while Stanovsek and Parker led the boys team.”

Wallace, a sophomore, has been running Cross Country for two years and Track since middle school. She has also participated in soccer, surfing and cheerleading. As a freshman Wallace earned second place at states for the half mile and mile in Track. She also received the award of Athlete of the Year for FFHS. Wallace wants to attend college for Track rather than Cross Country. Her goal is to be in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

“I did soccer and track at the same time last year and that was really hard with catching up on my classes and getting to the practices at the right time,” Wallace said. “Neither of my coaches were happy that I would be at one sport one day and then be at the other one the next. It was hard but it was definitely worth it in the end.”

This is also the second year for Stanovsek, also a sophomore who runs Cross Country and Track.

“I began to love running when I was in fourth grade,” Stanovsek said. “I started Track in middle school, while also participating in triathlons.

Stankovsek placed first in the regional championship Oct. 27 after being named Conference runner of the year. His goal is to place in the top three for states and make the national team for Footlocker. Stanovsek wants to attend the University of Oregon for Cross Country and Track.

“Our team has faced challenges with practice being hard and keeping the motivation,” Stanovsek said.

On Nov. 3 Wallace, Stanovsek, and Parker will compete in the North Carolina State Championships. The championship will take place at Beeson Park, Kernersville. Stanovsek and Parker will compete at 10:00 am and Wallace will compete at 11:00 am.

“They [the team] have consistently improved on their times with hard work and gaining race experience,” Hudgins said.

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