NORFOLK, Va. — Maury High School is best known for its powerhouse football and basketball programs, but the Commodores’ cross country team is making a strong case of its own. Leading that charge is senior runner Mateo Canga, this week’s Athlete of the Week.

Canga didn’t set out to be a runner. His first love was soccer, but after a friend encouraged him to try cross country to stay in shape, he was hooked almost immediately.

“It was really just kind of like I found the love my freshman year,” Canga said. “I love being on the team. Just the social aspect of it. It’s odd, because you think of it as an individual sport like running, but the team aspect fascinated me.”

Head coach Bryan Bennett said Canga’s passion quickly set him apart.

“The thing about Mateo is he’s a student of the sport

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