In shape from intense summer training in South Lake Tahoe, the cross country team blazed through its first several meets of the season, taking the Earlybird Invitational at Toro Park by storm with an overall second place co-ed score out of 50 teams on September 7.
The team matched their excellent performance at their first SCVAL meet of the season at Crystal Springs on September 10. Out of the 14 teams in the De Anza league, the boys scored second overall, and the girls scored a solid third place. The senior boys placed an outstanding first overall with four runners in the top 15, while the sophomore boys and girls placed third and fourth, respectively. The Freshman girls grabbed second, and freshman boys placed third overall.
A strong showing at the third meet of the season, the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park, “[helped] make a name for ourselves as one of the top teams in CCS for both boys and girls,” Head Coach Daniel Oren said.
Sophomore Ben Zaeske led the boys varsity team, which secured fifth place overall, while sophomore Lauren Jacobs led the girls varsity team to fourth place overall. Junior varsity boys were not far behind with an eighth place finish, and girls frosh/soph grabbed a solid 13th place. Boys frosh/soph topped off the meet with a seventh place finish.
“The boys and girls teams both have a lot of depth,” Oren said. “There are very many strong runners that will contest for varsity spots, and that competitiveness amongst team members is a good thing because it will push every on the team to be better.”
Oren believes both varsity teams have SCVAL League Championships and CCS victory in sight this season with a goal to qualify again for the State Championships.
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