The cross-country team began their final push with the district championship on November 4. The coaches are excited to see where athletes will shine in these final meets as athletes push to reach their maximum potential.

The district championship led to school history with the boys qualifying for regionals as a team for the first time. They will join the girls at regionals on November 11.

Coach Lana Rosamilia Brown said, "This is bigger than running times and race results. It's about the growth, the determination, the teamwork, and the memories made along the way."

The boys took eighth place at districts with a total time of 1:30.25. Kai Minteer led the way with his time of 17:30.6. The girls also took eighth place with a total time of 1:54.30 led by Kayla Hawk with her individual time of 20:33.8. Hawk is looking to return to the state championship.

As the team prepares for regionals, the coaches recognized their seniors and two rising underclassmen.

The seniors that will be recognized this year are David Gamez, Sianalis Thompson, and Vance Porter. They have worked hard and continue to shine as prosperous leaders. 

As she prepares to leave, Senior Sianalis Thompson gives advice to underclassmen. She says, “Don’t compare yourself to others and keep a strong mentality.” Thompson has made many achievements while being a part of the team, and her legacy will carry on inspiring many. 

Another senior has made great efforts to motivate his teammates. David Gamez says, “You must push to be better than the classmen above you.”  Gamez would like to stay in shape  post-graduation and never forget the many memories that he has made. 

The last senior to be honored is Vance Porter. Coach Lana Roasmilia Brown said Porter is a remarkable runner and teammate. She also said his dedication is undeniable as he is a key asset to the team's continued growth and success.

Additionally, the coaches highlighted two rising athletes: Claire Hoyer and Ian Perez. 

Bouncing back from injury, Junior Claire Hoyer proceeds to show outstanding recovery. Hoyer says that she endured a stress fracture and overcame it by slowing building up her mileage. She continued to stay connected to the team and still shows her dedication daily.

Hoyer isn’t the only superstar on the team. In addition, Freshman Ian Perez takes the stage. Perez had a goal of breaking the 18:00 minute 5k and achieved his goal with a time of 17:26 at the Tri-County Championship. While this is an outstanding achievement, Perez also mentions that he must adapt to the high school running environment. He says, “The hardest part is being consistent and pushing outside my comfort zone.” 

The coaches said the team is now turning their focus to the Regional Championship on November 11 and are looking forward to building on this success.