Jeff Davis High has begun its second season of Cross Country. Jeff Davis High’s cross country coaching staff consists of girls coach Will Wood and boys coach Dustin Allen. Wood not only coaches girl’\s cross country, but he is also the head coach of the girls track and field team. “I think my enjoyment of running is the reason I wanted to become a cross country coach,” Wood said.
Wood has high expectations for this year’s team. “We were ranked No. 9 preseason by Georgia MileSplit in GHSA Class AA, and just looking at the early season times, we could place as high as fourth or fifth at the state meet,” Wood said.
“We are in a very tough region as there are several teams that could possibly contend for a state title,” Allen said. “We are just hoping to be competitive in our region and qualify for state.”
Wood has three seniors on the squad. “All three of these ladies are very similar in my opinion,” Wood said. “They all come to practice, very quiet. In fact sometimes you would never know they were there. However, they come and work hard every day without complaining, and that’s something that I can appreciate out of any athlete”.
Allen has one senior, Victor Ambriz. “He is such a leader,” Allen said. “He is the one who makes sure everyone is working hard during practice. He is almost like one of the coaches. Victor is such an asset.”
Victor Ambriz plans to go to the University of North Georgia for two years, then Georgia Tech for two years. He has a running time of 19:34. His favorite cross country memory is when he ran in Orlando, Florida, in the ESPN Disney Cross Country Classic. Victor began doing cross country because he wanted to get in shape.
Alyssa Cooper has been a member of the Jeff Davis High Cross Country team since the 2015-16 school year. “The only reason I joined cross country was because of my friends,” Cooper said. After high school, Cooper would like to go to either the University of Georgia or Florida State University.
Tisa Cvirn is a foreign exchange student from Slovenia. She lives with her host family, coach Will Wood and his wife, Meg. Tisa plans to attend a medical school back in Slovenia. She began running cross country because her father is a coach and she enjoys running.
After high school, Tia Kornegay plans on going to college to earn a degree in nursing. “The reason I joined cross country was to take up another sport and become even more active in the activities that the school has to offer,” Kornegay said.
We are all hoping that their last season is a great season. We encourage not only our seniors, but the whole Cross Country team to stay motivated, stay positive, and give it their all every time they are out on the trail.
ITG Web Content
Jeff Davis Cross Country Update
Written by Camry Sanders
Photos by J. Ernst
