Cross-Country Summer Camp Inspires Middle and High Schoolers to Run Towards Success
MADISON, FL (August 10, 2023) – Students from Madison, Suwannee, and Orange County, Florida embarked on an exciting journey during North Florida College’s Cross-Country Summer Camp. Over the course of the camp, student-athletes discovered the joys of cross country running, forged new friendships, and experienced personal growth in the serene and challenging landscapes of NFC’s Madison Campus. The camp was lead under the expert guidance of Brian Bullock, Suwannee High School’s Head Cross-Country Coach.
Each day consisted of warm-up runs with drills and stretching, followed by a more challenging run. Student-athletes took full advantage of NFC’s facilities including the Sentinel Café, and Fine Arts Auditorium where they engaged in daily lessons pertaining to the sport of cross-country running. These lessons included topics of cross-country history, goal setting, running shoe anatomy, and the mental demands of cross-country racing. Each day concluded in the NFC Colin P. Kelly Fitness and Wellness Center with campers unwinding through team-building games, such as Manhunt or Dodgeball.
“Each student-athlete worked hard and had fun while doing it,” said Bullock. “The workouts we did helped them, but above all was the knowledge they gained from each lecture session. There’s a lot more that goes into the sport of cross-country than just running. There is a huge mental component and I believe this camp helped with that.”
The Cross-Country Camp concluded with a timed trial 5K and 3K run on the NFC Campus. The 3K Overall Winner was Logan Haley, of Suwannee County, and the 5K Overall Winner was Kaydan Aultman, of Suwannee County. The runners in this camp also benefitted from practicing on the course for the inaugural North Florida Classic Cross-Country Meet; a high school and open-run invitational to be held on October 21, 2023, at the NFC Madison Campus.
For more information about NFC camps or its upcoming Cross-Country Meet, contact Lynn Wyche at 850-973-9404 or email wychel@nfc.edu.
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PHOTO 1: Cross Country Campers complete drills on NFC’s challenging terrain.
PHOTO 2: Student-athletes take the scenic route on NFC’s campus as they learn best practices from Coach Bullock.