Cross Country Fires Through a New Course
By Matilde Martinez-Navarrete (News Editor)
The Samo cross country team hit the ground running at Cool Breeze, their first meet of the year, on Sept. 3. However, Coach Tania Fischer has been training her athletes since June.
“Once school starts, our season starts,” Fischer said. “If you don’t train in the summer, basically you will be really far behind.”
Last year, the team joined the Bay League, matching them against Culver City, Redondo Union, Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Peninsula High School. The latter four are regulars at the CIF state championships, putting Samo up against cross-country powerhouses.
“The Bay League is the toughest league in Southern California,” Fischer said. “It was a little overwhelming our first year, but this year I think we’re better prepared,”
Samo ran at Cool Breeze during the extreme heat warning from Sept.’s heat wave, but they came ready with cold water and towels to keep themselves as cool as possible. Fischer commented that the athletes she spoke to said it didn’t feel that bad when they were running thanks to the heat training they did beforehand. The boys’ varsity team placed third overall and the girls’ placed 11th, but Fischer has high hopes for them once League starts.
“My goal is that the girls come close and that they feel like they belong in the League… that they have confidence, and that they know they can run with the best.” Fischer said. “Our boys have already proved it [at Cool Breeze].”
Samo broke records at Cool Breeze too. Colin McCormick (’23) became Samo boys’ ninth-fastest three-mile runner ever at Cool Breeze with 16 minutes and four seconds. First-timer Phoebe Benun (’22) ran Samo girls’ third-fastest three miles ever at Cool Breeze with 18 minutes and six seconds.
“Last year I ran track, but let’s just say cross country races are a whole lot more confusing, and I’m still trying to get used to having almost no idea where I’m going as I head around each turn,” Benun said.
Benun and McCormick went on to beat their personal records at the Woodbridge meet a couple of weeks later with a time of 17 minutes and 36 seconds and 15 minutes and 29 seconds, respectively. Benun placed first in her race and the rest of the girls’ team pulled through to win first place overall, while the boys’ team got fourth.
“I was talking to people after the race… when Fischer let us know that we placed first, which was followed by a long period of jumping, screaming, hugging and numerous pictures,” Benun said. “This was a big moment for our team, and I’ll remember that race for a long time.”
League is set to start on Oct. 12, but Fischer is pleased with the teams’ results thus far.
“Their confidence has been slowly coming together and I think that the key, especially in cross country, is that you run as a group because you can’t win a cross country meet if you’re all spread out,” Fischer said. “So the idea is that if you train together, you race together. It’s worked so far.”
Cross Country takes a break during a hot Saturday morning practice.