Sports : Cross Country team completes traditional journey with football from Marion

The VS Cross Country team accepts game ball from Marion coach before leaving for Vinton Friday.

V-S Cross Country Seniors accept the game ball from the Marion footbal coach Friday.

Runners begin their journey in Marion.

Runners await their turn as the team progresses from Marion to Vinton.

Each year, at Homecoming, The Vinton-Shellsburg Cross Country Team carries the game ball from the opposing school to the Vinton-Shellsburg football stadium.

This year, the journey led from Marion High School to Vinton. The seniors, at first, and then the rest of the team, accepted the ball from the Marion coach. They then took turns running the ball to Vinton before carrying it to the field to present it to Viking Coach Pete Farley just before the game began.

1st picture Marion coach handing ball to the senior XC runners
2nd pict the entire VS XC team accepting the ball
3rd pict The seniors on the first leg of the run through Marion
4th pict. waiting for the hand off for the next group to run the ball