If you were in attendance at the Seahawk Invitational, you couldn't help but notice two things that stood out apart from the great competition: the new hill (which slowed the course down quite a bit) and the massive group of runners clad in either neon yellow or purple that were lining the course to cheer. Those runners were from southeastern Charlotte rivals Ardrey Kell and South Mecklenburg, two schools separated by only 8 miles. Despite their proximity and their Southwestern Conference rivalry, the runners from these two teams displayed close friendships and a spirit of mutual support as they cheered for each others' teammates.
The bond between their programs derives in part from the Ardrey Kell coach, Brian Zelk, who coached at South Meck before beginning the Ardrey Kell program. For the individual runners, according to Ardrey Kell senior Kaitlin Kramer, many of the friendships began in middle school. Teammate and fellow senior Abby Brooks says, "We practice in the same place, and actually we went to camp together. We became friends 
there, and we also hang out at practice." South Meck senior Madelin Talbert adds, "The first year I went to camp it was just me and Wesley Bonnin, and we happened to room next to Abby Brooks and Emily Hicks from Ardrey Kell. This year a lot of their team went, so we really bonded over frisbee, running, and a card game called Dutch Blitz."
The two squads seem to balance competition and friendship effortlessly. Says Talbert, "I dont think its weird at all because you can be so competitive with each other in the race, but as soon as its over you're genuinely happy with how they did and you put it all behind you." Brooks agrees: "It's friendly competition. We race, but in the end, it's fun."
In a time when sports around the world can generate riots, vandalism, and hatred, it is nice to see two schools that truly seem to understand what sportsmanship is supposed to be like. Running lends itself to this kind of mutual support; after all, everyone goes through the same struggles, from training to race day. Though cross country has always been famous for creating strong bonds between teammates, I have always been most impressed by how often teams from the same area support and cheer for each other. Ardrey Kell and South Mecklenburg typify some of the many great things about our sport, and I know there are other examples of this kind of camaraderie from all around the state. If your team has a special bond with another school, or unusual circumstances have brought your programs close together, send me your story!
