After just 16 minutes and 38 seconds, an exhausted Anna Vuich sprinted across the finish line at the Rose Garden last Thursday afternoon, setting a new school record by 17 seconds. Following close behind was Junior Janelle Mitri who also broke the old school record by 7 seconds. This was the second last race for seniors Anna Vuich, Dior Lindsey, Heather Viscuso, and Charlene Roe who have dedicated their sweat, blood, and tears into running these past three years in the hopes of calling themselves “Number One”. It has been 8 years since da Vinci has held the title of Cross Country Champions and after coming so close so many times, the name is theirs once more.

Anxious with pre-race jitters, Heather Viscuso stood at the starting line strong-minded that triumph was inevitable. The team took their marks, got ready and bulldozed past every other team on that field. Coach Hans was proud, and in a celebratory act proceeded to have the Cross Country team dye his hair blue. Yes blue, the color of champions.

The finish line was full of tears, rib breaking hugs and exhausted pleas for water. Everyone on the team delivered personal bests and everyone left with sore throats after cheering their hearts out for the boys and girls teams who also, as always, made us proud to call ourselves da Vinci Dragons. Nothing could have been accomplished without the effort made by the entire team. And finally after relentless training, after scorching summer days, after rain, sleet, snow, sprains, scratches, hip injuries, bad knees, the tears and of course with the help of two incredibly dedicated coaches Leonardo da Vinci was led to victory, a victory that hasn’t been had since 2001.