Placing 13th at state last year, the girls cross country team has been working hard so far this season. They have big goals set in hopes to live up to the high expectations they have after such a successful season.
Head Coach and senior high gym teacher, Casey Hanson, plays a large role in the team’s success, yet he really gives all the credit to last year’s runners. “Last year, we had a large group of people training over the summer before going into the season. We then knew that we had the talents and the potential and that group of kids put in the work. We trained all summer long together. Everything gelled and worked correctly last year,” Hanson said.
Along with the running itself, this team has a great bond and they work extremely well together, which is a crucial part of a successful team. “[The] general team dynamic is very strong. Everyone likes each other on the team and the seniors are super helpful. On the girls team, it [feels] like a big sister type of vibe with the middle schoolers all the way up to the seniors,” junior runner Charlize Vang said.
Coming off of an amazing 2022 season, this year’s standards are high. Coach Hanson elaborates on what the plan is for the second half of the 2023 season. “We graduated a ton of those seniors that got us to where we want it to be. So this year, it is trying to instill the work ethic in the team, and then also we talk about pack running. We’re trying to form a new pack,” Hanson said.
Due to the cross country’s team’s season being mostly in the summer, they tend to get overlooked when it comes to how hard they work and what their training consists of. The team never fails to put in the work both in and out of the school year. “We train Monday through Friday and an average day looks like anywhere from two miles up to six or seven, if you’re really going for it ten,” junior runner Emma Dempsey said.
BSM cross country runners love that although their training is undoubtedly difficult, they find ways to have fun too. “The night before a race the team always has a pasta party which is always a lot of fun and a good way to prepare. Also, every week we just will do some fun games throughout practice and get to know each other,” Dempsey said.