Charlotte Feller

The team enjoyed some team bonding on their trip to Sioux Falls when each grade dressed up in different costumes.

This past weekend, the BSM boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took a trip down to Sioux Falls to compete in the Nike Heartland preview race. This trip is a yearly tradition, and it is a top memory for many members of the team. The race overall went well, which added even more fun to the weekend.

The team left mid-afternoon on Friday, September 12th. They took a bus down, and it was about a four-hour drive. When the team arrived, the first thing they did was jog the race course. Doing this helps the team see what they need to do in order to be successful. “It was a long bus ride down there, but it was a fun way to get to know our teammates better,” senior captain Lauren Patterson said.

A highlight of the trip was the visit to the Thunder Road Arcade. The team go-karted, played arcade games, and did a grade versus grade laser tag game. It was a fun way to get the team together and be competitive with each other. Another highlight of the trip was the dinner at Olive Garden, where the team fueled up with carbs before the big race. “We all chowed down on the breadsticks and salads, which filled us up before our food came,” senior captain Jack Foley said.

Every year, as a fun tradition, each grade dresses up in a different funny costume, and they wear them to dinner. This tradition helps create strong team bonding throughout the grade levels. “This year, the seniors all dressed up as different Teenage Ninja Turtles, and it was super fun to see all the different grade levels in their costumes,” Patterson said.

The race was early Saturday morning, and it was a hot day. The weather was in the high eighties, but that did not stop the team from pushing through. Because it was a huge meet, with more than 1000 racers, racers just focused on bettering their own times. “I didn’t get to race, but the race was super hot, and there was even an ambulance there,” Foley said.

Aside from the race and the activities, the team also had the chance to talk with their coaches about their goals for the remainder of the season. “All the kids were brought up to the front of the bus and talked to the coaches about their goals and aspirations for the upcoming season, and it was heartwarming to hear some of the goals they have for the future,” Foley said.