The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams dominated their races, winning consecutive first-place finishes on Wednesday at Hallmark Park in their second PAL meet of the season.
Despite top runner junior Evan Chopra injuring his leg prior to the race, the boys still managed to take the first four spots. Junior Grant Bennitt, senior Cason Mitchell, and senior Aidan Sharp all clocked in with a time of 15:53, and junior Benjamin Salceda topped things off by finishing just two seconds after.
“I was actually really nervous because I’m a transfer student and I’ve never raced with this team before,” Bennitt said. “This is my first race on this team, so I didn’t know if I was going to perform as well.”
The rest of the boys’ team also placed very well, claiming the 9th, 11th, and 12th positions.
The girls’ team not only won first place but also had the lowest point score, allowing them to secure the victory.
“The course starts out downhill, and it funnels into a really tight trail, so I was trying to use that hill so I could be near the front for that first little trail,” senior Paige McGaraghan said. “We all ended up in the front for that first mile. The team executed our plan really well.”
Using the terrain to their advantage, junior Caroline Pflaum led the girls, winning the race with a time of 18:13. Senior Matilda Smart and McGaraghan followed shortly after by taking the fifth and sixth spots.
With this overwhelming victory, the Bears hope for a great season, having defeated the Carlmont Scots, a powerful rival school.
The Bears will compete next at the Rough Rider Invitational in Fresno on Friday Oct. 17.
