If you asked a random student at Muir about our Cross Country team they would have no idea about the members of the team, information on the season, or even what cross country is. They would be unaware to the fact that our cross country team is highly competitive. There are currently in a league where they must face Crescenta Valley and Arcadia High School who are known to be two of the top ten teams in the state.

This year’s cross country team having won five meets, has improved tremendously from past years when other teams didn’t see them as any competition. The coach of the cross country team, sees a lot of potential in the current team members and has noticed vast improvements in everyone, especially the rookies who were in a similar pace as many of the other experienced runners. While the team faces tough competition from Crescenta Valley and Arcadia High School, the team is more than capable of beating many other teams in the Pacific league, including Pasadena High School, who they have no problem defeating.

The cross country team’s escalating success did not come effortlessly. Each week the team endures intense training, running forty to fifty miles in a series of speed and endurance workouts. They also increase their stamina by doing core exercises so they do not break down as easily. You can often see them after school on the track working out non-stop to get into top shape.

All of this work and effort pays off for their meets, where they participate in courses to run against the opposing team. Each school is allowed to race five runners who seem qualified to complete the course. The meets are scored according to the order in which each runner places, with the first place runner receiving one point, the second runner receiving two points and so on. After all of the scores are compiled the team with the lowest score is the winner, a perfect score is 15.

Being on the cross country team requires physical and mental strength, passion, and endurance. Nevertheless, the members have fun. When asked what they enjoyed about being on the team, Cross Country members Richard Zarazua and Cesar Espadas both said the “competition." Every member is a great athlete, however, they do not really get the respect and recognition they deserve. So the next time you see Richard Zarazua, Cesar Espadas, Christian Kooshian, Miguel Gonzalez, Esteven Zarazua, or Julian Santillanas, ask them about their season - you might want to join.