By Ken Hansard
Joplin High School cross-country Coach Dora Eastin is in her eighth season as a cross country coach and second as the team’s head coach. After qualifying three runners from last year’s team for the state meet, she feels that this year’s squad has the chance to be even better, “We have a young but hard-working team. Although we’re still early in the season, the dedication and effort from our athletes is promising.”
Like most coaches, Coach Eastin takes a very “be in the moment” type approach to her athletes and their progression, “We’re focused on developing each runner’s potential and working towards our goals. We expect each athlete to give his best effort at every practice and meet. Teamwork is essential, as supporting and encouraging one another is crucial for our collective success. Proper preparation, including eating healthy, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep, is vital for peak performance. Most importantly, maintaining a positive and encouraging environment will be key to our success.”
That kind of mindset saw the Eagles advance three individuals to the state meet a year ago and will hopefully lead to even more runners qualifying this season, “Last season, we had one medalist at the state meet and aim to build on that performance this year.”
Although the Eagles lost conference champion Ian Horton to graduation, they return two other state qualifiers from last season, senior Chance Tindall, who was league runner-up and a state medalist, and senior Grey Edwards. The Eagles also return sophomore Noe Fischer, who as a freshman last year was a strong contributor. Additionally, they have added junior Jacob Tatum, who joins the Eagles for the first time this season. Jacob’s soccer background makes him a key piece to the puzzle and someone who Coach Eastin feels will add much needed depth to her squad. “We’re looking forward to improving on last year’s results and achieving even greater success.”
While Coach Eastin feels that every race is an opportunity for each runner to prove his mettle and improve upon personal best times, one race that she is particularly excited about is the Gans Creek Classic: “It’s especially important because it allows us to preview the state course and gauge our competition ahead of the state meet.”
When asked what would ultimately allow her to feel like the Eagles’ season is a success, Coach Eastin again returned her sights to culture and growth, “We want to see every runner achieve personal bests, make significant strides in the rankings, and ideally, we would love to see several runners medal at the state level. To achieve that success, focus and attention to detail will be crucial. This means staying committed to managing the little things, such as maintaining proper hydration, nutrition, and rest. Additionally, while cross country is an individual sport, our success depends on how well we work together and support each other. By combining personal dedication with a strong sense of teamwork, we will enhance our overall performance and reach our goals together.”
