Cross Country: Team Goes to States

PHOTO CREDITS: ANDY MORALES

BY ANDY MORALES

The CCHS Cross Country team had exceptional results this season at their state level competition in Tallahassee. After winning at districts, the girl’s team, along with sophomore Jose Penvaler, proceeded to States. Penvaler was the only boy to qualify when he placed high enough to qualify for not only the state but the regional race. Months of training and practicing prepared the team for all the challenges and hardships that came their way throughout this season.

“We practiced hard, tired our best, and stayed motivated every day,” Penvaler said.

When the team found out that they had qualified for states, they realized that they would have to work hard in order to fine tune their skills and fix whatever problems they had encountered on their last runs. So with extra speed work, and putting in many miles on the Vista Views hills, the team set off for Tallahassee.

“Honestly, the practices before States were some of the toughest,” Senior Sophie Carr said. “Coach was challenging us in ways that we had never been challenged before so it really helped to prepare us.”.

The team arrived at the competition with confidence, determined to race with pride; they wanted to race not with the competitors, but with their own times. In the end, the girls’ team had come in 11^th place, and Penvaler secured a place in the top 100 among the boys. Great job Cowboys!