Cross Country | 8/13/2025 10:15:00 AM
The Clinton High School Men's Cross Country team enters the 2025 season with a renewed energy.
Improved summer participation and a competitive edge within the team have sharpened the runners during a strong offseason training window.
Head coach Eric Solis is encouraged by the team's progress over the summer, noting that attendance at offseason workouts increased for the high school squad, and the junior high team's attendance was phenomenal, which Solis believes played a big role in last year's runner-up state championship finish at that level in 2024.
"Summer workouts are the key to cross country," Solis said. "Once the racing starts, we don't have the luxury of those long runs and hill sessions that build the foundation. That work has to be done beforehand."
One of the cornerstone workouts this summer has been the team's "Grinder Hills"—a challenging 1.3-mile uphill route. Athletes who clock a time under 8:20 earn a special team T-shirt and bragging rights for the day. Solis says the incentive has helped push many runners to personal records on the "Grinder Hills".
Throughout the summer and preseason training, the team's plan emphasized aerobic capacity with long runs, progressive pace runs, and power runs. Clinton's "power run" training is a uptempo two-mile workout, where runners maintain a set pace close to race speed. The squad also fills in anaerobic sessions like 12-by-400m repeats, though Solis stresses the importance of sustaining speed over three miles rather than excelling in a single lap.
Additionally, the Arrows have participated in several morning runs, waking up at 6:30 a.m. These sessions have added an extra 12 miles per week to the team's mileage. These easy-paced sessions provide recovery while helping runners acclimate to morning race conditions.
A key development this year has been improved pack running. Solis points to last year's junior high group—now ninth-graders—as a driving force. Runners like Daniel Dolson, Noah Duncan, Ezra Connelly, Bobby Guillory, and Dillon Pittman have raised the standard.
"The freshman came in with a tight bond from junior high, and it's motivated everyone," Solis said. "The high school boys are doing a much better job of staying together and working as a team. It's been almost a 180-degree turnaround in their approach."
With increased commitment, stronger team chemistry, and a deepening roster, Clinton is aiming to make a strong push this fall. The Arrows finished 10th overall in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 7A State Championship Meet and are predicted to finish in 8th place this upcoming season.
"They've been knocking out the workouts and pushing themselves," Solis said. "If they keep this up, we'll be in a great position when the races start."
Clinton opens the season with the Ole Brook Invitational at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, in Brookhaven.
