Freshman sparks Giants’ strong start

By Dana Jones Correspondent
Published: September 17, 2008

For the Waynesboro cross country girls’ team, this season opened with two new important members, coach Julie Stevens and freshman runner Meredith Figgatt.

Although Figgatt participated last season as an eighth grader, this is the year when her times actually count. Eighth graders can be a part of the team, but their times do not count towards the score in the meets.

Stevens has had her eye on Figgatt for a while now.

“I’ve known Meredith from P.E. classes at Kate Collins [Middle School],” Stevens said. “I’ve kept track of her and I knew what to expect out of her when the season started.”

As an eighth grader Figgatt caught the eyes of more people than just her future coach, racking up times that seniors couldn’t keep up with.

“She started in eighth grade but her points didn’t count,” Stevens said. “She’s showing the middle schoolers that, if they keep running and keep improving, then this is what they can do.”

Figgatt turned heads after she grabbed first place in the girls 5K on Sept. 2 against Stuarts Draft and Riverheads. Her senior teammate Vicki Andersen came in second.

One week later on Sept. 10, Figgatt was crowned No. 1 again in a meet that featured Harrisonburg and R.E. Lee. Overall, the girls finished the meet with 26 points winning the meet.

“Coach Stevens really helps us. But I’m glad that I came in first. That’s a big thing. I have really worked hard before I came to varsity,” Figgatt said.

“Meredith is a great runner. Vicki Andersen came in second and they are great at pushing each other,” Stevens said. “They are going to be wonderful throughout the whole season. They are our top-two girls.”

Figgatt is the first one to tell you that she’s not the best, contrary to what others think.

“I kind of run with the seniors,” said Figgatt. “It’s not like beating them.”

Long distance running is a family event in the Figgatt household; speed and endurance is in her genes.

“My dad was a record setter for the 2-mile at his high school,” Figgatt said. “He helps me in setting my goals. He says if I really work hard at it I can make it to states.”

Some would think that a freshman looking to make it to states is ridiculous, but not in Figgatt’s case. That’s not even the end of her list of goals.

“I’d like to make it to states,” Figgatt said. “I also want to break 20 minutes, but that’s going to be hard to reach.”

Figgatt’s time against Lee was 23 minutes flat and she will have to work hard to shave off another three minutes.

“You have to work up to getting faster and faster. I thought that I’d leave off from where I was last season, but that’s not how it works,” said Figgatt.

Figgatt isn’t afraid to compete with the best at her age, even the boys.

“I like running with the boys, it makes me better,” Figgatt said. “They’re really tough especially when they run with us — they don’t like getting beat by girls. They are pretty much better than me.”

“Running with the guys is a great way to pace off of a different speed,” Stevens said.

Because the boys and girls run separately at the meets, rivalry amongst the teams is all in fun.

“The girls usually run before the guys and before every meet the boys want to know Meredith’s times,” Stevens said. “It’s like they want to make sure that they beat her time.”

Figgatt’s success is due in part to family, coaches and her teammates.

“I think a lot of her success is going off of the senior girls. They each push each other,” Stevens said. “They have the rest of the season ahead of them.”

Waynesboro will compete in the Augusta Invitational on Saturday.

“On Saturday, I look for Meredith to be one of the top runners,” Stevens said. “It’s a great opportunity to see what’s out there and to have some other people to pace off of.”

TNV Sports Writer Corine Gatti contributed to this report.