Cross Country

Jason Lewis

Head Coach

"Running is not about being better than somone else.
It's about being better than you used be."



SLA Cross Country — 2026 Season Information

Welcome to SLA Cross Country!

The Student Leadership Academy (SLA) Cross Country program is open to all middle school students interested in developing as runners, teammates, and leaders. Whether you're new to running or have previous experience, our program emphasizes long-term growth through consistent effort, positive team culture, and intentional athlete development.

Our goal is to help every athlete build confidence, develop healthy training habits, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing both on and off the course.

Athlete Information Sessions:

Students interested in Cross Country are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming Athlete Information Sessions during their lunch period.

Session Dates:

Tuesday, August 18
Monday, September 14

Students will learn about: The Cross-Country program, the upcoming season, team expectations, practice schedule, and how to get involved.

Parent Information Zoom:

Parents and guardians of interested athletes are encouraged to attend one of our virtual Parent Information Zoom sessions.

Zoom Dates:

Thursday, August 20 | 7:00–7:45 PM
Thursday, September 17 | 7:00–7:45 PM

During the meeting we'll discuss: Program philosophy, season structure, practice & meet expectations, communication, answer parent questions.

Team Sign-Up Period:

August 18 – September 20

Students planning to participate should add their name to the Cross-Country sign-up sheet located in the SLA cafeteria during the sign-up period.

Official SLA Cross Country practices begin Monday, September 21.

Preseason Training:

September 21, 23, and 24|Time: 2:30–4:00 PM

The first three official practices serve as the team's preseason period and help athletes transition into structured Cross Country training before assessments and competition begin.

These practices will introduce and reinforce team expectations, running fundamentals, pacing awareness, healthy training habits, and team rhythm while allowing athletes to begin building fitness and confidence.

Preseason practices are not tryouts. There are no cuts.

Athletes should attend consistently and come prepared with running shoes, athletic clothes, a small towel, and a full water bottle.

Assessment Period: Practice Dates: September: 28, 30 / October: 1 |Time: 2:30–4:00 PM

SLA Cross Country does not conduct a traditional one-day tryout. Instead, coaches evaluate athletes across multiple practices to establish an initial baseline and better understand each athlete's readiness as the team prepares for competition.

During the assessment period, athletes will participate in team training and running assessments while coaches observe factors including effort, consistency, coachability, pacing, fitness, and overall readiness.

The purpose of the assessment period is not to determine who makes the team. There are no cuts. Instead, the information helps coaches individualize instruction, establish appropriate training groups, and make initial decisions about meet opportunities.

Placement is never permanent. Every athlete will continue to have opportunities to demonstrate growth and readiness throughout the season through consistent effort, preparation, and coachability.

Competition Phase: Begins Monday, October 5

Following the assessment period, athletes transition into the Competition Phase of the season.

Practices are generally held from 2:30–4:00 PM on scheduled practice days. Because the weekly schedule varies around meets, families should refer to the 2026 SLA Cross Country Season Schedule and BAND for specific practice and meet dates.

Interested in Joining the Team?

Parents/Guardians should complete the 2026 Cross Country Interest Form using the QR code below.