Crossing the Finish Line: A Cross Country Recap

Cross country is not as simple as it seems, it takes brute confidence and endurance to cross the finish line. This persistence is only built with dedication, discipline, and camaraderie. To have finished the season with grace and eloquence is difficult, yet the cross country team did this effortlessly. 

“We left early Thursday morning to head upstate to Tallahassee. We had a team bonding dinner, and the following day, we woke up at 4:30 am to head to the course to get an early start into the day. It was all very exciting.” Senior Silvia Portocarreo recalls. “For the rest of the weekend after the State Championship we spent bonding with each other, it was a great experience overall and I am happy with how this season went.”

After the team conquered and had an amazing performance at Regionals 4A Championship, the girls were invited to play at the 2023 State Championships in Tallahassee. Their continuity and perseverance since last year bled into this one and gave them the chance to show off their inspiring skills in this championship.

Every practice consisted of sheer drudgery and strength training that only shaped the falcons into the winners they are. After every mile run and strenuous stretch, they would repeat and repeat until the brink of sunset. Like all sports, time and commitment were required, which expanded the athletes’ capabilities.  

“I’m sad about the season ending, but I am proud of how the season went and happy with the results,” Senior Samantha Pinnavaia, says. ”I loved being able to see me and my teammates progress after every race.”  

 As one of the most challenging sports you could ever play, the team’s feat is commendable and impressive. This sport is physically and mentally demanding which requires extreme willpower. These runners had to master difficult racing strategies, move past injuries and body aches, and commit to after school practices in the scorching and sickening sun. Everything about their wins is grand. 

Cross Country is more than just running around a course and trying to beat the time. This sport takes strong dedication and a great work ethic. These student athletes proved their resilience by pouring their hearts out on the field and adapting from mistakes. With the season successfully ending with many new strengths and memories, it is only natural for fellow Falcons to anticipate what’s next for the cross country team. Congratulations to the cross country team!