Mike O’Callaghan, head cross-country coach at Camp Verde High School, takes pride in the challenge his home course will offer runners at the fourth annual Camp Verde Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27.
“You’re not going to see many courses like the one I’ve put together, I’ve got to admit,” he said. “The best I can say is, it’s pretty steep. The kids know it is; they look at the hill and recognize that it will be a challenge.”
The hill O’Callaghan is referring to is CV Hill, a low mound covered in rocks and desert scrub behind CVHS where the 10 host Cowboy runners, after leaving the start line at Sam Hammerstrom Field beginning at 9 a.m., will compete against 11 other schools in their graduating class for the fastest time.
“Anyone who has run this course before definitely has an advantage, because they’ve seen the course — and on that course, that makes a difference,” he said. “You go up and down the hill twice, essentially.
“Any hill you run is going to help build strength, and it also helps build your speed. That’s part of the reason we run it, even in practice.”
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Sept. 24, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
