After finishing third in the region this past season and coming in second in the 2024 APS Championship, the girls cross country team has set the goal of progressing and placing first in the city meet this season.
“I would consider a successful season pretty much just going out there and competing,” assistant coach Jamal Willis said. “If we can win APS champs, which I think we have the ability to, that would be huge for our girls’ team.”
This year is head coach Issac Seals’ first season with the cross country team. Although he has only been with the team for a few practices, he is able to see its potential.
“When I saw these kids run, I said, we have some talent in the school, very talented,” Seals said. “I expected that from a school like this. When you have a school full of high achievers, and you normally have a good distance or cross country team, I really think both teams could win [APS championships].”
The team was challenged with not having a head coach leading up to this season. Despite this, Seals believes the team has been successful in preparing for this year.
“Normally, I would have had this team during the summer, but I did not get them until [the third week of August],” Seals said. “I have to implement changes slowly, surely, and gradually, but I know [Willis] had the presummer handled.”
Attendance at the preseason workouts has been emphasized this year, and Willis believes this is what will make or break the team’s success.
“From what I’ve heard from years prior, people don’t really come out to the summer work,” Willis said. “So this year, you know, I was really just trying to get people to come out there because our season might be in the fall, but our season is really built in the summer. Your first day is the first day of school. We’re already two months behind.”
Willis joined the team the previous season, making this his first chance to run preseason practices. He has made a few improvements based on the team’s performance last season.
“We had a solid summer of building up mileage and getting our bodies ready for the season with things other than just running,” junior James Roberts said. “We did a lot more strength training and stretching as a team, which has helped tremendously with injury prevention.”
Although some changes have been unpopular, Roberts views them as both helpful and necessary.
“He has incorporated a speed endurance type of day, which includes a lot of sprinting,” Roberts said. “While it is not our favorite day, I think it will make a big difference when it comes time to finish.”
Willis believes that Roberts, specifically, has shown their determination by setting higher standards.
“[They’re] planning to run under 19 minutes in a 5k, which would be one of the fastest times here, like ever,” Willis said.
Senior captain Rose Glickauf said the team has become far more passionate, furthering its chance at success.
“The team is relatively competitive internally,” Glickauf said. “It is becoming more competitive as the new groups of freshmen start joining, but we all try to push each other in practice during workouts and at actual races.”
With two of the team’s highest contributors having graduated, there were many openings for younger runners to make their mark.
“I see a lot of potential in all of the freshmen,” Roberts said. “We will just have to see who continues to show up and work hard, as they will become the most successful.”
Lia Sinitiere, a freshman, recognizes the importance of a competitive drive and is excited for the season to begin.
“As a freshman, we have many great incoming runners, and I’m ready to see how all our seasons go,” Sinitiere said. “I think the team pushes each other to be better. Everyone secretly has someone they want to beat, and we work hard for it.”
Although the team has more personal motivation this season, camaraderie between runners has remained.
“I think the team atmosphere is fun,” Glickauf said. “I enjoy talking with and running with everyone on the team. We support each other by showing up and doing hard workouts together, as well as cheering each other on during races, and it really makes a difference.”
Roberts emphasizes the importance of teamwork and believes that engagement from teammates will only improve the group and encourage them to do better.
“You are each other’s greatest motivators, especially on the course,” Roberts said. “Our internal drive to succeed is going to push us to run as fast as we can, and when we race each other, we push the group to be better.”
Sinitiere believes Willis’s work with the team in the summer and to start the year ensured a strong start to the season.
“Coach Jamal is very persuasive and pushes us to use our potential,” Sinitiere said. “He always makes sure we are working hard and running to our limits to be the very best we can be.”
