CIF Girls Cross Country

A new season and a new set of varsity girls, the Cross Country team is setting a new place for their sport at San Dimas high. This is the second year in a row that the Saints have made it to CIF, and they aren’t showing any signs of stopping. 

Last year the girls achieved their goal of making it to the finals and they planned on doing the same this year. 

Training started in the summer till now and the Cross Country team definitely put in the hours of work. Monday to Friday, 3pm to 5pm, mile after mile the Saints put in over 35 miles a week. Hour after hour of straight running, the cross country team has put their blood, sweat and tears (literally) into training their bodies to endure the extreme heat and the largest hills.

Varsity member Michelle, also one of the new additions to the team stated, “I didn’t know if I was prepared for the race but I have ran a lot of races so I really am ready.”As a transfer student from Wissahickon Pennsylvania, Michelle has dealt with a lot of change this year but she said, “It’s hard not knowing the course but, its okay, we will do great hopefully.” 

Over 500 runners and 100 different schools, the competition is fierce in the sport of running. Many teams drive from near and far to experience this race, a course most would say, “sucks a lot.” Three intense miles ran against the hardest schools around the state. 

“There is nothing compared to the starting line,” said Michelle, “everyone is just nervous and wants to start the race.” The only thing that has their attention is the marksman with the starting gun. Once that shot is fired, there is no turning back. 

The race began at 9:28am. The sun was already burning hot, the gun fired, and the girls went off. Emily Burnheart and Layla Graham lead the Saints team running an average pace of around 6:35. Following closely behind was Xochiti, Carla Rojas, Michelle, Samantha and Aster. Each playing an important part in fighting to move forward. 

As the heat begins to intensify and the course begins to come alive, the girls get to the last 800 meters of the race. A straight shot that always seems to be the breaking point for runners and truly shows how their race went. Girls crying, sprinting and leaving everything they got on the course. The Saints placing number 9 in their heap, top 12 advancing to the Finals. 

Girls Cross Country for the second year in a row made it to CIF Finals. The girls living their best life, doing their best and making it to the Finals yet again. Through the pain, heat and competition, the San Dimas Varsity team is pushing to new measures to show what they are truly capable of.