Experienced Vernon runners mentor young teammates

vernon — There is plenty a student-athlete can learn from running cross-country during their high school careers if they put the proper work and effort in.

While a dedicated cross country runner must possess many positive individual attributes, including outstanding stamina, the ability to rebound well from a setback, the willingness to learn from mistakes and figure out ways get better at every opportunity, it also gives an athlete a sense of pride and achievement when they are able to reach goals that they previously thought were unattainable.

Cross country teaches a young person lessons and a lifestyle they can carry with them after their high school days are complete.

Members of the Vernon High School cross country program realize all that and they are doing their best to ensure not only personal success on the course, but success for their teammates as well.

“This year’s seniors have taken all the younger runners under their wings and proved to be positive role models," Vernon head coach James Shenise said. “From planning summer workouts, running the warmups and stretching on a daily basis, to picking up the other athletes when they are having a bad day [the seniors have had a positive impact]."

Senior girls on the team include Kendall Cook, Karli Fitzpatrick-D’Angelo, Ashlie Howell, Kristen Ondris and Cassandra Williamson. The senior boys for the Vikings include Sean Doonan, Brian Downs, Brandon Forino, Justin Schneider, Richard Veen and Ryan Williams.

“Brandon Forino and Bryan Forino (a sophomore), our top two boys, have taken minutes off of their time from last year to this year [because of] hard work over the summer and hard work every day pushing through and not ever taking it easy," Shenise said. "Cook and Ondris [lead by] running hard every day realizing this is their last season before graduation."

Through Oct. 17, both Viking teams have two dual meet victories.

“We are trying to rebuild over the next few years and picking up a few wins this season would be nice," Shenise said. “The boys only had one win last season and this year we already have two in the books — Sussex Tech and Lenape Valley. We have closed the large gaps between all of our runners. By each runner improving on their time, we were able to close the gaps and make all of our races closer when it came to scoring. We would like to show a good effort at the sectional race at Garrett Mountain in November."