EDMOND -- Edmond Memorial is in the midst of a cross country rebuild.

Both in team and in building.

As construction began this summer on a new sports complex at Edmond Memorial, the Bulldogs cross country team has had to learn to live without a home track or locker room.

Coach David Sammons said the good news is that his runners are getting a proper warmup before each practice.

“We run over to Central Mid High to use their track,” Sammons said. “We got spoiled down there with our own cross country locker room, and now we are stretching out in the gym lobby. It's a bit different, but our kids are taking it in stride.”

Sammons, who is beginning his 45th year in coaching this season, is excited by the influx of young talent his team has this year as the roster swelled to more than 50 kids.

Though Edmond Memorial lost star runner and Class 6A individual champion Jed Helker from its second-place team a year ago, Sammons said he thinks he still has some hardworking guys who are eager to compete.

“We don't have a Jed unfortunately,” Sammons said. “But it's going to be more of a team effort this year, and I think we have some guys that will lead the way for us.”

Two of those guys are seniors in Alejandro Endres and Jay Kiefer.

Kiefer finished eighth overall at the state meet last year with a time of 16:16.46. Endres finished 24th overall.

“Jay came on really strong and had a tremendous track season for us,” Sammons said. “And Alex has really been a great leader and has really improved too.

“We are kinda building around them.”

Even with their track home demolished, Sammons said his team remains excited about the start of the cross country season.

“Team unity can pull things together,” he said. “The construction has made things a little more challenging, but we are all together.”
