Cross Country 2026 correction

Editor’s Note: The information included in last week’s special Fall Sports Profile section for Merrill High School Cross Country was inadvertently a repeat of the 2025 Cross Country Team information. The following is the correct 2026 information. We apologize for this error.

Cross Country 2026

Head Coach: EmmaLee Smith, 3rd year as Varsity Head Coach, 12 years of Cross Country experience

Assistant Coaches: Kaitlin Nohr, 3rd year with Varsity Cross Country

Key Returners: Ben Hanson, Charlotte Van Der Nest, Jameson Morgan, and Bryanna Doer

Key Losses: Jacob Mueller, Brady Eggebrecht, Gabriel Keys, Robin Schmidt, Norah Schmidt, and Ellie Slozes

Key Newcomers: Rebekah Hagemeister, Evelyn Hagemeister, Amelia Weberpal, Emmett Johnson, Kane Hanson, and Sophia Wendt

2025 Recap: The team showed exceptional dedication and improvement throughout the season. From the first race through to the end of the season, the athletes consistently pushed their limits and demonstrated impressive endurance, consistently paired with steady improvement in personal records. The overall team performance was a testament to their hard work.

2026 Outlook: We are looking forward to another great season representing the Merrill Bluejays in Cross Country. We have some promising runners returning, as well as a few new runners climbing the ranks. We are continuing to improve our training this year, with a greater focus on consistency — strength, endurance, progressive and resistance training — to help build the best athletes and prepare them for the challenges they’ll face in a race. We have an excellent group of students this year, and they are up for the challenge.

A Final Word From The Coach: Cross Country has always been a tight-knit group. The athletes show great support for each other in all facets of the sport. Though the team is not substantial in number, they truly are some of the best — willing to work hard and adapt to challenges, pushing themselves and each other to be their best. I am proud to be their coach, and I hope they know I want to build confidence and support them to be their best on and off the course.