The Paint Branch Cross Country team is out to make history this year. The team has worked hard trying to earn a banner for the main-gym.

Cross-country meets generally consist of three teams. Each school has all the players run and the top five runners for each team are counted. The players’ are ranked and receive corresponding points to what place they ranked. The players scores for each school are added, which is the teams’ score, and the team with the lowest total score wins the meet.

Coach Lynette Hopkins and Assistant Coach Dessalyn Dillard have rallied the team this year. Coach Hopkins is currently in her second year of Panther Cross Country. Hopkins gained experience when she was in high school. Following high school graduation, she received a full track and field scholarship to Virginia Tech University. Hopkins helped the Hokies win several conference championships, before she graduated in 2001. Assistant coach Dillard also became fascinated with track and field in high school. Dillard helped win County, regional, and a state championship. She also held individual titles, and following graduation, she received a track scholarship to the University of Maryland, College Park. Coach Dillard’s excellence from high school continued in college. Dillard returned to Paint Branch this year after assisting with indoor and outdoor track three years ago.

The boy’s team started the year on the right foot by defeating local rivals Blake and Springbrook. They continued by stomping over Seneca Valley until, Clarksburg and Einstein slowed the Panthers. The boys suffered their first loss of the year. Boy’s Captain Nick Schmedding commented, “I was really pleased with the effort of the boys this year. We all improved from last year, and we had a winning record.”

The lady Panthers have had a wonderful year. Captain Noelle Tom-Wigfield, who helped instill Coach Hopkins and Dillard’s work ethic, led the girls. They plowed over all opponents this year, including Blake and Springbrook. Tom-Wigfield stated, “This year I was really excited for the division meet because I thought we could win. We came in second place so we still have States to look forward to.”

The running Panthers have finished the regular season, and are looking forward to MCPS County Championships, 3A Regional Championships, and states. The team looks to finish the season the way it began, with a win. The team clown, Arpan Duttarory, proclaimed, “We ran well this season and have a close knit team, so I think we’ll continue to do well this year.”