Cody Girls Win the City Cross Country Championship

The Lady Comets captured the Gold Division city championship and finished in the top tier at regionals, powered by a tight-knit group that refused to quit.

Cody’s cross country girls won the city championships for the Gold Division this year, capping a season that ended exactly the way they had worked for it to.

"We had a great season ending with a championship," said junior Amira Cornelius. The team went on to finish in the top tier at the regional championships on Oct. 29.

The dedicated runners began the season in August, competing throughout the fall at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. "Cross country is difficult. You compete against all the other schools in Detroit and run for three miles," Cornelius said.

Senior Mariama Diallo, who has been running with the team since ninth grade, kept it simple: "You have to make sure you drink lots of water and have energy to run." Senior Aveona Edwards, also a runner since ninth grade, said she enjoys running with her team and hopes to earn a scholarship in track and field. She said her coaches continue to be supportive and tell her to continue her dreams.

First-time cross country runner A’Bria Woolfolk said the team carried her through the hardest days: "I really enjoyed bonding with my team. They made sure I would not give up, even when I wanted to." Junior Decarious Jackson put the season in perspective: "Cross country is like life, it teaches us that no matter how hard or rough life gets, if you keep pushing through and never quit, you will reach your goals."

The coaches for the team are Coach Antonio Baker and Coach Michele Watkins, who are dedicated to introducing students to the world of running and success. The Lady Comets’ city title stands as one of the proudest moments in recent Cody athletics history — and a standard for the runners who follow.

“Cross country is like life — no matter how hard it gets, if you keep pushing and never quit, you will reach your goals.”