Polk County runners completed their annual run up White Oak Mountain on Monday (photo courtesy Alan Peoples)

Polk County’s cross country team took part Monday in what has become a treasured ritual for the program.

Members of the Wolverine girls and boys teams took part in the annual run up White Oak Mountain, a late-season tradition. Awaiting at the top was an opportunity to have earned a coveted “I Conquered White Oak Mountain” T-shirt, given to those who completed the run without stopping to walk.

Seven runners will proudly wear that T-shirt, those athletes being Braxton Edwards, Mark Teague, Ridge Burnett, Ezra Marlow, Olivia Overholt, Tori Thompson and Luna Gonzales.

The team will gather next Monday for a pasta dinner before tackling the Mountain Foothills 7 Conference championship meet on Tuesday at Jackson Park.