| By Jonathan Oglesby Moapa Valley Progress Published September 3, 2008
When Bill Collup took over the Moapa Valley High School Cross Country program last fall, the program barely had enough runners to stay alive. Then Josh Thompson’s amazing run to the State Meet happened and the Cross Country fire was lit again, meaning Moapa Valley athletes began returning to a sport which once had a spot of prominence in the Fall season. This fall, Collup will have over twenty runners. Other stars besides Thompson are ready to take back a sport where Moapa Valley once ruled supreme. |
 MVHS Cross Country runners endure a hot August afternoon practice preparing for their first meet on Wednesday, September 3. |
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| As part of the resurgence of MVHS Cross Country, Collup has brought a tenacity to the coaching positio. He has been steadfast in his approach to bring the Pirate runners back into the limelight. Through the early parts of the year, Moapa Valley runners have been busy doing sprints, long-distance runs, and other work in efforts to help the team prepare for the long and grueling season which includes several stops around the Silver State. | |||
| This season also will bring back a piece of Moapa Valley tradition as the Pirates will once again host a Cross Country meet on the Pirate Trails which haven’t been used over the past few years. In his discussions, Coach Collup feels this is a vital part in getting people excited about Cross Country.
“It’s gonna be cool to have a meet back here in the valley,” he said. “We have about two dozen kids who are excited to be running and this team is a for-sure contender for several titles this season. I really think though that having a meet here in the valley will get people excited about the kids that run hard for their school.” |
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| The Southern 3A will be a tough division this season for Cross Country but Collup is confident that his squad will be at or near the top come time for the big meets like Division and the State Championship. “I’d say us and Faith Lutheran are going to be the powers in the Division. I think we’ve got a team that is going to be very successful though and we’ve got a good chance to beat Faith in front of our home crowd when they come to our meet,” explained Collup. |
