Racing to finish the last meet of the season, the girls cross country team concluded their regionals on Friday, Oct. 30, landing third place and advancing to states with an official score of 110.

“It has been exciting to watch this team, not just the varsity, but the JV runners as well, all come together at the end of the season and run such great times,” coach Scott Cooper said via email. “Almost everyone ran a PR (personal record) at the regionals, and a large percentage of the runners ran faster than last year, which is always the goal.”

Only the top three teams and top 15 individual runners continue to the state meet. Sophomore Lauren Sickmiller and freshman William Hoffman achieved scores allowing them to move on to the next race as an individual, with times of 18:59 and 16:49.4, respectively. Unfortunately, the boys cross country team, who were in second place the whole season, placed fifth at regionals.

“We have worked our tails off for the whole entire season,” Hoffman said. “I almost don’t want to go to states without them because I feel so terrible that we’ve worked so hard and we thought it was all set. But that’s okay, at least we worked hard and we had fun, so that’s a good thing.”

However, both teams finished strong with an increase in the number of personal records. Not only does freshman Julia McLellan feel cross country taught her various life lessons, but the sport taught her endurance as she broke her barrier breaker goal with a time of 20:52.

“It felt amazing. Even after I felt like crap, after I was able to catch my breath, I realized how much I PR’d by,” McLellan said. “I feel like I’ve personally improved as a person. I communicate with people better, I feel like I’m a better runner and I’ve met so many nice people who have become my friends. I’m pushing them forward and they’re pushing me forward.”

Captain Rebecca Flynn is proud of how much the team has improved both mentally and physically. As a senior, Flynn got to create and strengthen the friendships she made throughout her four years.

“(Cross country) taught me a lot about comradeship because we’re working with these girls, we’re working with a team of about 80 girls for two hours six days a week,” Flynn said. “It teaches you a lot of mental strength because once you push yourself to limits, you have to keep pushing yourself. You think you push yourself enough and then you have to give 110 percent.”