Afternoon athletic events look different than Saturday mornings. Students leave school early and miss study time that must be replaced. They sit on the bumpy bus, balancing textbooks across knees, read bouncing words and attempt to control vibrating pencils. That is the picture as the New Glarus-Monticello Cross Country team heads to our Tuesday invitational at Marshall. With just ten teams, Marshall hosts a smaller meet than we see on weekends.

Temperature stays warm and humid as the teams explore McCarthy Park on Dane County’s west side. The afternoon will go fast since girls varsi...