This year, the Knights boys’ cross country team experienced major improvement compared to last season. More runners joined the team, more personal records were broken, and the bond between teammates grew stronger as the season went on.
Many of the runners were completely new to the sport and had never run before. Others returned after taking the whole year off. According to head coach Matt Peterson, the team faced several challenges early in the season.
“We were challenged with a lot of hot weather, new athletes, people getting in shape,” Peterson said. “Even with those obstacles, the runners continued to improve each week.”
The Knights began their season at Deerfield High School, where they finished in last place. For many runners, it was their first-ever race. However, the team quickly bounced back. At the Art Campbell Lake County Cross Country Invitational the following week, every member of the team earned a personal best time, showing how quickly they were improving.
Team captain Oliver Davies had a strong season. He ran his best time of seventeen minutes and eighteen seconds at regionals held at Central Park and finished in forty-second place. Davies said that his favorite part of the season was spending time with his teammates.
“Being with all my friends and hanging out with all of them,” Davies said.
Co-captain Roberto Huerta Rodríguez also improved a lot this year. He ran his season best time of eighteen minutes and one second at regionals, also held at Central Park, and finished in fifty-sixth place. He said his favorite memory came from sharing the regional meet with his teammates. “Probably regionals, like the warmup, being with the team,” Huerta Rodríguez said.
Regionals ended up being the meet where both captains ran their fastest times of the season.
Overall, the Knights boys’ cross country team had a year full of progress, hard work, and strong team spirit. With new runners learning the sport and returning runners stepping up as leaders, the team ended the season with momentum and a stronger bond than ever.
