Del City cross country teams aiming to run to state
Shekinah Marshall a sophomore, Ja’Von Cleophas a senior, Kijuan Peoples a junior, and Aniyah Hudson a senior performing drills at practice on Aug. 9. Photo by Valerie Scott
By Valerie Scott
Midwest City Beacon
The Del City Cross Country Team is aiming to qualify for the state meet this year.
Coaching the team is Cassandra Segebart who has been the cross country coach at Del City for seven years but has been coaching for 20 years.
“I’m a country girl, I love being outside. In cross country we get to go to the lakes and parks, we get to have a lot more switching up in scenery as compared to track,” said Segebart.
Segebart also raises rabbits to bring up to school, she believes it is a good way for her students to bond with an animal.
The team collectively proclaimed that their goal and team focus this year is making it to the State Competition.
“Like track, what’s nice is that they can qualify as a team but are able to qualify for State on their own as well,” said Segebart.
Leading the team this year are seniors Anaiyah Hudson who is in her third year of cross country and Ja’Von Cleophas who is in his second year of cross country and in his second year of wrestling, both are on the track team.
“I stay with cross country because I like the way it makes me feel. When I am running my mind feels so clear and centered,” said Hudson.
Other members of the girls team include: Niaja Dunn, Lameisha Farmer, Keira Ferris, Victoria Girela, Destiny Hill, Jaikia Johnson, Niya Sanchez-Cutliff, Risha Spence, and Lesley Torres.
The boys team also includes: Juan Armendariz, Alfredo Carrion, Hector Fraire, Cayden Gaines, Nathaniel Green, Esteban Herrera, Alex Ledezma Manrriquez, Shekina Marshall-Thomas, Mohammed Minnis, Erick Monrreal Tovar, Javier Moragan, Andre Negrete, Byron Paramo, Kijuan Peoples, Elhassan Rashwan, Tajammal Smith, Gabriel Tapia, Kennedy Thong, Rafael Vasquez, and Deandre Wallace.
