NU Cross Country will rally behind veteran leadership

By Bob Putman, Richwood Gazette

The overall numbers may not be what the North Union boys and girls cross country teams would like, but Head Coach Penny Cunningham has a good number of returning runners.
The boys team has six letter winners, while the Lady Cats have five runners returning to toe the starting line.
Leading the girls team are sophomores Kailin McElroy and Kennedy Ludwig and senior Lauren Hall.
All three were regional qualifiers in 2023 and each were among the top 11 in the district meet.
Other returnees are sophomore Josie Held and senior Savannah Amstutz.
Returning letter winners for the boys are senior Traven Reber, junior Max Leavitt and sophomores Jack Hoover, Drew Chadwell, Philip Ardrey and Felix Plouck.
New to the team this year are freshmen Colton Smith, Mack Marlette, Wyatt Roby and Bradley Cline.

NU’s boys cross country team is pictured from left, front row, Traven Reber, Colton Smith, Mack Marlette, Wyatt Roby and Jack Hoover; back row, head coach Penny Cunningham, Philip Ardrey, Max Leavitt, Bradley Cline, Felix Plouck and Drew Chadwell. (Gazette photo by Aleksei Pavloff)