The cross country team is onto another season with new goals and a stronger mindset. The countdown to district is underway, bringing along daily training that is challenging the boys and girls more than ever before. The coaches have been preparing their teams for a long season of meets. The Dragons are ready for anything that comes their way this season, including adjusting to a season without the leading seniors of last season.

“This year we are running without our two best runners from last year so we have some big shoes to fill in,” senior Hayden Gray said. “We are combating that by getting the underclassmen fired up and ready to contribute.”

After two of the star runners on the men’s cross country graduated, the boys had to adjust to workouts and meets without them, along with losing their best friends. The boys have taken up new challenges to improve their team as a whole like taking up their mileage and building an aerobic base. The team has also emphasized their family atmosphere; they motivate each other and never put one another down. The boys hold a pasta dinner every night before meet day which brings their team together to prepare them for their race the next day. Gray said that another pre-race ritual is listening to Chief Keef and Meek Mill to get pumped up.

“I think our team has a good shot at making it to state this year,” senior Mia Sanchez said. “To do this, we have to keep a positive team atmosphere and help push each other to do better.”

The girls team has also taken up new techniques to better themselves as a team. Just like the boys, they are drawing attention towards the family aspect of their team. They are also improving their mindsets by remaining positive even when times get tough. Mia Sanchez said that every year the team gets closer and closer; it benefits their running and mindset.

The girls worked hard all summer and are working on staying in a pack so that they can place better and keep the discouragement at bay. 

“When we learn how to be a family it helps us keep our packs together while running and pushes us all to be great,” Sanchez said. “Cross country is a hard sport and the mental aspect is just as important as the physical, so we have to emphasize keeping a positive mindset.”