After a challenging season last year, the boy’s cross country team is looking forward to building off that success, energy, and positivity as they enter their new season this year.
After losing three seniors, the team has established a next-man-up mentality for the younger players to step up into bigger roles this season. With nine total meets, the team is going to have to hold strong, build their endurance, and pace themselves for the long season ahead. The team is led by senior Captain Sam Bromberg and a fellow upperclassman, juniors Sam Auclair, Ted Simons, Charles Simons, Bassil Chughtai, and Oskar Ruser who will see increased leadership roles this season.
Head Coach Fritz Goodman described the early part of the season as a “training phase.” The season began with two scrimmage-like invitationals, the first being on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Noble and Greenough and the second being a week later on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Choate. Overall, Coach Goodman thought the two runs went quite well for the team. “Based upon the times, I thought our team showed improvement,” he said. “The message to the team is that the training is working.” Coach Goodman also described how he focuses a lot on personal improvement when it comes to a runner’s time. “If someone has a time better than it was before, even if they’re in 80th place, they are still standing out in a way.”
The team works very hard in practices in order to be as prepared as they can be, going into a meet. The team runs on different types of ground, consisting of dirt, gravel, and concrete. They time themselves and put an emphasis on self-improvement. With a long season ahead of them as well, the more conditioning they do in practice, the higher their endurance will be, the better their pace will be, and the better times they will get. Coach Goodman talked more about the preparation the team does during the week. “We’ve worked on getting in shape and building endurance,” he said. “We’ve also worked on our ability to increase the capacity to use oxygen. The more a runner can be aerobic, the faster they will be.”
Team chemistry is an important aspect of any and all teams. For the boy’s cross country team, their team chemistry is a major strength. “We have people who get along and are willing to support each other,” he said. “Very, very little disagreement or dissension. They are helping each other become better.”
The cross country season can be long and grueling as the runners must build their endurance and mental fortitude for the season. The first official meet for the boy’s cross country team is on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Canterbury School. In a quick turn-around, their second meet is on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Marianapolis Preparatory School. Good luck to the entire cross country team for the season ahead.
