The long run

 

The Cross Country team sticks together

 

 

                    By NAYSA CUSTODIO, 10

 

 

 

 

There are 70 people on the BA Cross Country

team, with just one coach, Mark Smith. He has

been the coach since 2004.

 

The runners keep each other motivated. They

are always together. They seem to have a tight

bond between each other. When you see one

team member they are always with another.

 

Coach Smith calls the BA Cross Country team

“the family.” He says, “we are our own support

group, we support each other when we are

running”.

 

“We are a fam, we all go through pain, we cheer

each other on, we give each other advice, we

are there for each other on the good and rough

times,”  said Ashley Hernandez.

 

They bond during practice, at meets and after. They go out to eat together and also have the common experience of riding the bus. They bond because they are weird.

 

“We might be different people but we all have one thing in common, which is running and it’s not easy,” said Oscar Castro, 12.

 

Osvaldo Lara, 12 is drawn to the team because of the spirit and close knit connection between team members.

 

“It’s just a hobby but I enjoy doing it because it keeps you wanting to run more and plus there are people motivating you, which is my team,” he said.

“We run together. You find a person to run with so they will keep you going.”

 

As Angeles Castro knows, the team certainly has their fun times as well.

 

“On Coach Smith’s birthday, after the amazing race, we bought him a cake and after we ate the cake we poured iced water on him,” said Angeles. “Then we got the icing and all of a sudden a bunch of people started throwing icing everywhere. I remember my hair being so sticky but I didn’t care because it was so much fun.”

 

The day before districts the team had a spaghetti dinner to talk about the race and get mentally prepared. For the team it’s about the people around them because they keep each other going by encouraging one another during the contest. They each have a responsibility and they trust each other. Not only does Cross Country prepare the athletes physically, but mentally as well, because it motivates them to earn passing grades and have less problems in school.

 

“We are a team, a family, because we love running,” said Yazmin Cuevas.

 

11.07.14