The newest high school sports team in the area has hit the ground running.
Carrollton High School debuted their cross country team last week at the Salisbury 3500, with several runners setting personal bests. Both the boys and girls teams are coached by Anna Barlow, who tells KMMO Sports that interest in the program is high.
Barlow says five boys competed at Salisbury, with freshman Carter Barlow pacing the Trojans by finishing 28th. Coach Barlow says the district’s administration has been eager to provide an additional opportunity for their student athletes to compete.
Barlow is a native of Liberty and competed for the Blue Jays’ longtime coach Tim Nixon, whom she credits as an inspiration. She says Nixon provided a positive influence on her career and established a program that was supportive of all its runners.
Nixon coached at Liberty for 39 years before his death in November 2017. Barlow says she hopes to create a similar, supportive culture at Carrollton.
Carrollton’s first MSHSAA district assignment, released Friday morning, has the Trojans in Class Two, District Four.
Hear our complete interview with Carrollton cross country head coach Anna Barlow: