Cross Country Continues Meticulous Execution for League

ANHAYTE GUAJARDO
Staff Writer

When the first gun went off on Oct. 2 at Legg Lake, all athletes were ready to give their best performance in their first Almont League race. Scoring first place in the girls’ varsity race was junior Anhayte Guajardo with junior Daniel Ramirez placing second in the boys’ varsity division.

“The freshman and sophomore team did great! We did not walk and we kept our pace,” sophomore Gabriela Carrazco said, “By our last race, [we finished] strong and with pride.”

When it comes to placing as a team, Head Coach Sandra Rodriguez emphasizes that in a cross country league meet, one does not run for their time but for their place. The first five runners that come in for your team are scored and the team with fewer points receives a better place.

“Although the team ran good times, we need to work on our fourth and fifth [place] runners for both boys and girls varsity to ensure our second place and continue to CIF,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also explains that the importance of maintaining teamwork is important because cross country is the ultimate team sport. Runners need to work together during practices and races to help each other run faster and receive a higher place closer together. She also encourages the team to cheer for their team as they run by to help them dig for that extra effort to help them finish the race.

“We still have the same mentality, that we are in it for ourselves, but we need to work together and finish as a team if we want to place for CIF,” captain Kevin Burgos said.

By the end of the first league meet, the varsity girls team scored third place, varsity boys scored fourth and the frosh boys and girls team scored fifth. The teams’ next league race will be on Oct. 16 at Legg Lake.