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A flooded, chaotic competition and many personal and season records wrapped up a successful season for the cross country team. After months of consistent training and surprises of new, young athletes, the team came together for a culminating CIF race.
The cross country team finished third overall in the Prep League, advancing them to CIF Prelims for the first time in 18 years. The team’s top performers competed in a rainy meet at Mt. San Antonio College on November 14.
The Prep League Cluster meet, hosted at the notoriously difficult Peninsula Course in Palos Verdes, proved to be a challenge, but through strategy and grit, five out of eight runners finished in the top 20.
On November 1, the Prep League Finals at Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park marked the breakthrough that the team needed to advance to CIF Prelims. 12 runners competed and landed Westridge in third place. Honor M. ’28 said, “I was really happy that we got to spend a lot more time with the team.”
With preseason practices starting in June, new student Honor was able to meet people and create a community at Westridge before the school year began. “[Preseason practice] was a really good way to meet people,” she said. “So then when I came to the school, I knew people, and I really appreciated that.”
Co-Captains Hermione W. ’27, Jessica S. ’27, Dylan S. ’27, and Head Coach Alyssa Vaughn led the team. Cross country captain and Spyglass Copy Editor Hermione W. said, “I’m trying to help lead the team and build a positive environment, because we don’t have any seniors this year.”
In only her second year on the team, Hermione has both led the team and grown immensely as an athlete, setting her three-mile season record of 23:54.8 at CIF Prelims. Although cross country is not a team sport, running in a pack and supporting each other plays a major role in a team’s overall performance.
At CIF Prelims, seven runners competed. Although the rainy weather was not ideal, the team set two personal records and three season records. Westridge’s top performer Jessica S. ’27 set a personal record of 21:56.4 in the three-mile Prelims race, and Honor M. ’28 set her personal record with a time of 22:36.6.
Coach Alyssa made consistency and effort a priority as the team grew and improved. From the summer practices to the final meet, the team showed up for each other and worked hard for their season. “My coaching approach centers on patience, consistency, and meeting each athlete where they are so they can improve step by step,” said Coach Alyssa.
“[Coach Alyssa is] understanding, and she wants you to take care of yourself to get better at running and explore in general,” Cross country athlete Valeria A. ’28 said.
The team is primarily made up of juniors, so they hope for an even better season next year, and another CIF appearance with the help of consistent training and dedication. “I’m excited to keep building on our team culture and the momentum we’ve created,”Coach Alyssa said.
