As the temperature drops and the fall season is on the horizon, cross country brings excitement to runners, coaches and fans. Carmel Christian School’s head coaches for cross country are Terry Menendez and Melissa Solomon. 

The coaches say that this is an exciting season and they can’t wait to see the runners improve as the season goes on. Solomon has been involved in cross country for many years, whether that be her coaching experience in the last three years or her experience being a runner on a team. Menendez has been coaching for longer than Solomon and is incredibly familiar with the sport. Last year, the team rapidly expanded with a total of nearly 50 runners on the team. This year, however, Menendez has made the team more competitive by creating standards that runners must meet in order to secure their spot on the team. With the senior class of last year leaving and new freshmen stepping up onto the cross country team, the coaches are excited to see how the season will unfold. Solomon says “The huge senior class that left had strong leadership and brought energy by cheering on the runners. However, the new freshmen are very competitive and hungry to get faster.” 

Cross country is a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know one another and to spend more time with their friends, as well as excel in athletics and represent the school. The runners feel excited and feel encouraged to improve and bring the team closer together. Senior Bella Sidwell says “Cross country has been an amazing opportunity to make new friends and grow closer with my teammates. It’s been so much fun to watch everyone in the team improve and encourage others during practice and meets.” Sidwell has a very positive attitude and always encourages others, making her a valuable asset to this year’s team.

So far this season, there has been a plethora of personal records and improvement. Solomon says, “The season has been really good. At the last meet they ran in, both girls and boys placed first.” Solomon hopes to continue this success throughout the rest of season. The runners enjoy seeing their hard work pay off as they drop times during the races. One of the main runners on the team, freshman Harrison Akers, placed first in one of the meets this season. After the race, Akers said “Winning the cross country race was a great feeling due to the team’s placement being well and knowing that my training has paid off.” One goal that the coaches specifically have for their team is to have the runners finish tight, meaning that it is better to have them finish in a group rather than spread out. Aspects that the runners say they need to focus on is their stride lengths, breathing patterns and nutrition. Overall, there is an incredible amount of potential for these runners, and the coaches look forward to seeing their success and growth this season.

The coaches say the team will be extremely prepared for the state meet in November, working everyday to train specifically for it. Solomon says “Everything we do is preparing us for states. Every race helps the runners improve.” Runners say that they will be well equipped for the state meet because the practices will thoroughly prepare them. Whether they are doing a long run or a speed workout, the coaches know what they’re doing and are working to make sure the runners will thrive under pressure when competition arises. Akers says “I feel very prepared for the upcoming state meet due to my nutrition and hydration and speed workouts I have been incorporating.”

So far, this cross country season has been very eventful. Through the highs and lows, the athletes have shown their perseverance, dedication, and love for the sport. As the end of the season lies around the corner, new goals, challenges, and improvements may arise.