Coach Yvette Greene’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country teams will open their season Saturday, Aug. 23, when they host the Pelham High School Hornets and Lady Hornets.

Juniors Perry Waddell, Branden Greene, Bennett Enfinger, Grayson Graham and Brad Cox are providing the Bearcats’ leadership.

Sophomore Chase Harris, who won most valuable awards in cross-country and track last, should lead the way again.

Greene said her runners are looking forward to the season.

“Cross country is a sport unlike any other,” Greene said. “Many runners hate the sport after the first week of workouts, but they later fall in love with it after their first race.

“Running rewards perseverance. Cross-country runners will be called upon to do more than they ever thought possible and in the process learn more about themselves than they ever knew before. Distance running has community all its own. Runners look out for and support one another. We are greatly supported by our cross-country booster club. All of our runners have really prepared well at practice.”

In addition to head coach Greene and Bainbridge Middle School Bearcats and Lady Cats coach Greta Conner, the teams have community coaches Daniel Graham and Greg Waddell.