The SPECTRUM

Volume 31

The SPECTRUM

The SPECTRUM

Cross Country Kicks off With a Great Start

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Coaches instruct athletes before the competition begins.

By Eugean Choi ’21
The varsity cross country team has started off strong with the boys earning a second place win and the girls earning a first place win at Griffith Park on Sept. 26.
“We are very pleased with what we have done so far. Our early season has been excellent and definitely on the path to where we want to go this year,” Cross Country and Track Program Head Jonas Koolsbergen ’83 said.
The boys’ varsity team consists of 11 runners, and the girls’ varsity team is comprised of seven runners. Varsity teams meet almost every day of the week and are always training for their next meet. With such a small team, the team members agree that their teamwork is excellent. Team members have said that they help and care for one another.
“Our team’s atmosphere and our team’s closeness is excellent; the athletes and runners care about each other deeply. Our team vibe is excellent,” Koolsbergen said.
In the JV team’s 2016 season, the boys won second place while the girls won third. There are around 30 runners on the JV squad. The JV boys cross country team has repeatedly won second place against Loyola. Beating Loyola and winning first place would mean that they would be able to go to the state tournament.
“I think that we are pretty good. I wish that we would make it to state this year. If we are able to beat Loyola, we can compete in State,” JV runner Isaac Dienstag ’21 said.
The middle school team consists of seventh and eighth graders, and many of them are experiencing competitive running for the first time. The girls have won first place in both of the meets that they have attended, while the boys have placed fourth at both. Their first competition was at Pierce College, and their second competition on Sept. 28 was at Rancho Park. Their most recent competition was on Tuesday at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, but results were unavailable as of press time.
Coaches have said that they are proud and happy for their team.
“I just want to see the kids grow.  Some of them are running for the first time, so I just hope that they can learn as much as they can,” ninth grade dean and Assistant Coach Colby Plath said.
 
 

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