Cross country season off to a fast start
The Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country teams have high expectations going into this season. Last year, for the first time in Samo’s history, the girls’ team made it to CIF Finals, advancing to the state meet and finishing 11th in Division I. Maeko Gross (’26), a runner on the team, said she was excited and shocked after making it to the state for the first time in Samo’s history.
“I remember how proud we were when we all finished the race,” Gross said. “It felt great, it was something I didn’t really expect so it was so rewarding after all our hard work.” Head Coach Tania Fischer and the varsity teams traveled to Mammoth Lakes this summer for an altitude training camp to hone their fitness and bond. The group went on challenging runs every day for five days, sometimes doubling up and running twice a day. Gross felt that the team became closer than ever, dipping into ice-cold lakes to cool down and holding a bake-off. Fischer is optimistic for this season after the sudden bonding.
“Our team is very close, and since they have to train so much they really get to know each other and rely on each other,” Fischer said.
Cross country commenced their fall season with the Cool Breeze Invitational on Sept. 2. Phoebe Benun (’25), the number one runner on girls’ varsity, came in 3rd place in a race of around 200. Boys’ Varsity Team Captains Brody Wilkes (’24), David Ervin (’24) and Nico Lombard (’24) feel hopeful as they focus on making sure the team stays healthy and recovers from that first race.
“We’re determined that we’re going to change things up,” Ervin said. “We got a lot of new freshmen this year and we’re really excited just to see everybody. So we’ll just see what we’re working with as the season progresses.” On Sept. 15 and 16, the team ran in the 42nd Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic. Woodbridge is one of the largest high school cross country meets in the nation, and well over 10,000 athletes ran there over those two days. Benun broke a school record with her race, running 3 miles in 16 minutes and 54 seconds, the fastest in Samo’s history. After Woodbridge, Fischer comments on her hopes for the rest of the season.
“My goal this season is to have my varsity teams thrive and keep healthy so that they can run their best,” Fischer said. “I would like my girls to go back to state and place higher than they did last year.”
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Katja Snyder / Contributor
Ariella Castillo (’27) [left] and Lila Beal (’27) [right] lead a pack in a co-ed freshman race at Palos Verdes High School’s infamous 2-mile meet.The freshman girls’ and boys’ team went on to win first place overall.