Cross country runners seek to improve times

Samara Guillen, staff reporter
September 1, 2015

As an eight-year cross country coach, Rachel Hermann hopes for her team’s best effort this year. Although the team has good connection, she can’t yet make a judgment about the new team compared to last year.

“

I really love the struggle, just the feeling of becoming better

— Spencer

As a varsity runner he expects to improve his time and run in state meet this season. Spencer manages sports and school work by having proper time management. As a four-year runner, he’s learned that you can’t rely on someone else because when racing you are on your own, but you have to trust your teammates. Both Spencer and Sammy Wong are captains who want to see the team succeed. “Just have fun with running and don’t take it too seriously but just take it seriously when racing,” Wong said. Even though he ran cross country for four years, he never ran before. He joined for fun and started to pick it up when his family started to run. This is Wong’s second year as varsity. As a first time varsity cross country runner, Shayla Quezada hopes to improve in her running. Although she was talked into joining cross country, she loves to run. Quezada has learned that team work is good and it will get you places. “Don’t give up because if you do, you’re just cheating yourself,” Quezada said. She explained that everything takes time and effort, but you just have to keep pushing yourself. Her inspiration for doing this is just to keep her mind off, it’s more like a hobby. “I like the free feeling while I’m running it’s almost as if you’re flying and nothing can stop you,” Emily Simons said. She wishes to improve her personal record in the three mile which is 21.03 minutes. She also wants to be one of the top runners, as a senior. Simons explained how it is difficult to have so many advanced classes and do a sport, but say’s it’s worth it. She said that cross country may seem like an individual sport, but she believes it takes an entire team to become better. She has been competing in running since five and has done cross country all four years of high school. There are 12 boys out for varsity and 15 girls. It is a little higher than last year, but Hermann thinks it is evenly spread out through the divisions. “Work hard and practice consistently because it does get better and easier”, Hermann said.