By Joanna Im ’20
Runners begin to race. Credit: Steve Chae/SPECTRUM
After three months of the cross country season, the Wolverines continue to thrive, driven by determination from the downfalls of last season. The girls’ varsity cross country team lost Mission League to Notre Dame last year, which motivated them to win Mission League this year. On Oct 22 of this season, the girls’ team won first place for the first time in eight years.
“It felt really good. It’s exciting after the loss last year to come back with a win,” Lochryn Howe ’17 said.
Similarly, the boys’ varsity cross country team was also successful. The team finished second overall, trailing very closely behind Loyola. In the 3-mile division, Wolverine team captain Nate Hollander ‘17 placed eighth.
Additionally, the team did well at the 69th Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 21. The boys’ team placed third overall behind Tahoe-Truckee and Piedmont in the 2-mile division, with two Wolverine runners placing in the top 10. They placed fourth in the girls’ 2.93 mile division.
Program head Jonas Koolsbergen ‘83 said that the cross country team has reached above and beyond expectations this season.
“We are very committed… finding a way to raise the group to a whole new level, we’ve been doing that,” Koolsbergen said.
The Wolverines varsity squad is preparing for the upcoming CIF finals meet, on Friday at Woodward Park.
The middle school team found lots of success throughout the entire season. In the Brentwood meet on Oct. 10, the Wolverines placed second overall.
“The Brentwood Meet is important for the middle school team, because it’s the last meet before finals and shows how much progress was made since the beginning of the season,” Sarah Maniscalco ‘21 said.
At Delphic League finals, which took place at Pierce College on Oct. 26, the Wolverines surpassed expectations. The boys’ team got fourth place and girls placed first.
Three runners in the girls’ team placed in the top 10: Natalia Quintero ‘21 placed first, with her younger sister, Daniela Quintero ‘22, placing second and Sophia Hayes ‘21 finishing in ninth place.
“It feels amazing to win finals. To know that all the hard work and hours of running has truly payed off feels great. I’m also so happy that the girls’ middle school team got first as well because everyone on our team put so much effort in practice and the outcome was that we got first,” Natalia Quintero said.
