Cathedral cross-country coach Tommy Smith issued a stern challenge to his squad for when they head to meets this year.

“Don’t try to be the strongest small school in the race,” Smith said. “Try to be the strongest school in the race.”

Smith is testing his squad by entering them in a number of collegiate invitational and MHSAA meets, in addition to their regularly scheduled MAIS events.

And so far in the early going, the Wave has more than answered the challenge.

On Monday, the Cathedral boys finished third at the Jackson Academy invitational after a seventh-place showing Saturday at Mississippi College’s Season Opener meet.

The Green Wave faced a number of MHSAA 6A and 5A schools at Saturday’s meet, including Petal, Starkville and Brandon high schools among others.

“My goal is to continue going to those meets,” Smith said. “They have to understand every one of these schools, no matter how big or how small, they all train the same way, and they all race the same race.”

At Monday’s event, Smith said his squad could have had a better showing. Smith designates seven runners before the race whose times amount to the total score.

However, the Green Wave had an undesignated player register as the team’s third best time.

“If you factor in that score, we actually finished second in the meet,” Smith said.

On the girls side, Smith said the team has been hampered because the number of other school sports currently ongoing limits his team to just eight runners. In addition to cross country, athletes are also participating in cheerleading, dance, soccer, softball and swimming.

“We’re struggling with the transition into MAIS,” Smith said. “It’s been spotty. It’s hard to get them all together. It’s going to be a work in progress. We’ll pick it up. We’ll put a better team together by the end of the season.”

For the boys, however, Smith said it’s full speed ahead.

“I feel very confident at what they’ve done and the work they’ve put in,” Smith said. “They’ve got a good base under them. And from what we’ve seen, I feel like we will probably have a better shot at state this year than we had last year.”

Smith he is excited about the prospects of both teams this year, as well as for the years to come. Of the 29 members of the team, the Green Wave has no seniors on roster, which brings a smile to Smith’s face.

Cathedral will next be in action Sept. 10 when it competes in the Loyd Star meet in Brookhaven.