Delta cross country practice

Delta cross country head coach Gordon Walton gives his runners an overview of the day's practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews)

Delta runners, from left, Gavin and Gunner Lesch follow Carter Scherer, Trevor Stroffregen and Austin Keys as they run down a dead end road during cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Delta runner Trevor Stoffregen, left, runs ahead of teammates Gunner and Gavin Lesch, as they race down CR 263 to catch up during cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Delta runner Carter Scherer runs behind Gavin and Gunner Lesch during cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Delta runners Lanson Cox, Grant Coomer and Eric Berry run down the driveway to Delta City Park during cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

From left, Delta junior Emily Landewee runs with sophomores Brooke Coomer and Aliya Callaway during cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. While Landewee and Callaway are respectively returning for their fourth and sixth years on the team, the upcoming season will be Coomer's first on the team. Coomer said she hopes the fall sport will help better prepare her for basketball in the winter. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Delta eighth-grade runner Sadi Britt rests her legs on a set of dumbbells after a cross country practice Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Delta High School in Delta, Missouri. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)