Woodbridge Cross Country Invitational

On September 17th at the Silverlakes Sports Park, the San Dimas Cross Country team competed in the Woodbridge Cross Country Invitational. In the sport of cross country, runners participate in many different meets throughout the season, but this meet in particular stands out.  With more than four hundred different schools from more than sixteen states, this was one of the largest meets in the country. This invitational has many features that make it one of the meets that the San Dimas Cross Country team looks forward to the most. 

When asked about what she enjoys most about this meet, senior Victoria Vargas stated, “My favorite part is at the end, during the last 400 meters, when everyone is cheering for each other even if they’re on different teams. It’s a really cool experience.”

Sophomore Valerie Sanchez added, “I was really nervous to race, but once I got started, all the competition from the many different schools made it more fun. This is my favorite race so far.”

This meet’s exciting and competitive atmosphere is one aspect that attracts teams from across the country. The course itself is on a hard surface and is completely flat, which is ideal for runners to get their fastest times. The meet takes place in the evening, which is perfect for running a three-mile race. With at least one hundred runners in each race, the competition pushes everyone to their limits, which accounts for nearly all of the runners getting their best times.  

The cross country team at San Dimas High School has been training since the summer and has put in countless hours of hard work. By running over thirty-five miles per week, the team puts their blood, sweat, and tears into training their bodies to endure the extremely difficult sport of long-distance running. The Woodbridge Invitational provides the perfect place to show how all of this effort has paid off. The competition, along with the ideal racing conditions, is why runners from across the country are all eager to race, including those on the San Dimas Cross Country team.  

After finishing the race, each individual runner felt a sense of accomplishment. A three mile race is never easy. Nearly everyone on the San Dimas Cross Country team received a medal upon finishing, which is always rewarding after a difficult meet. This race was the ideal opportunity for the San Dimas Cross Country team to show what they’re capable of. It took a lot of hard work to get to this point, and with the season only just beginning, they will have many more opportunities to compete in this challenging sport.