This year’s cross country season is coming to an end, and the results of Conference really reflected the team’s hard work.

“I think looking at the times that were run, we had 20 athletes get season personal records at the Conference meet. We also had five All-Conference athletes and several just finishing outside All-Conference honors,” said varsity coach Anthony DeStephano.
The team trained hard this year to get the placing they got in Conference. With firm coaching and dedication from the runners, their results were not surprising.

“Our coaches are having us run harder workouts two to three times a week and easier runs on the other days to properly condition us for the postseason races. The workouts consist of hard efforts on the track, speed workouts on the trail, and tempo runs,” said varsity runner senior Kelli Tosic.
Training the team to ensure victories after Conference took key training strategies.

“Toward the end of the season, we begin tapering, which reduces the overall mileage, but still keeping the intensity during workouts. This is the time we focus on trying to feel comfortable in uncomfortable paces or times,” DeStephano said.
The team is still keeping at it every day and were determined to put up a good fight at Regionals to ensure qualifying for State.

“Both teams raced very well at the Conference Meet – the girls placed fifth and the boys placed sixth. Although I expected a faster time out of myself, the great way that our teams raced as a whole shows we (were) a force to be reckoned with at Regionals and that we have a great opportunity to qualify for Sectionals,” Tosic said.
Senior Kelli Tosic qualified for State at Sectionals by finishing fourth with a time of 18:34.

“On Saturday, I ran at the 2A Sectionals meet at Belvidere High School, and it felt great qulifiying. I’m stoked to try to place well at State this weekend,” Tosic said.