Last year during the 2022-2023 season, Ridgeview’s Cross-Country boys took second place in league while the girls took third. This year they are wanting to build on this. Triandous Hobson, the head coach, discusses what it will take to have an even better season this year, “We’re doing lunges and squats and benching and just trying to be athletes, be more athletic.” This year the runners are in the weight room exercising and becoming more well-rounded as athletes for their upcoming season.
All while the runners struggle and sweat throughout practice, conditioning, and real races, they form strong bonds with fellow runners on their team and even runners from other schools. “Cross-Country might be one of the only sports where you get to bond over the pain and anguish of it,” states Hobson. “They’re running and they’re tired and then that’s when they like become friends and talk about stuff cause they’re dying and can’t say words so they all bond.”
Felipe Santillan, a senior, states how the relationship between his teammates affects him, “Since I have such a good relationship with my teammates it motivates me to do better.” Santillan holds a personal best of eighteen minutes and twenty-four seconds in the three-mile. Santillan is also shooting for a three-mile under eighteen minutes for his senior year. In general, having a good relationship with your fellow runners is always something that can keep someone’s love for the sport alive as well as motivate them to keep running.
Ridgeview is always looking to have more people join the numerous sports and extracurriculars available here on campus. To anyone contemplating joining Hobson advises to, “Do it. I was a sprinter and my coach told me to come out there the first day of practice and I threw up, and I was like I’ll never do it and I made friends for life doing it.”
Izaiah Munoz a runner in his junior year, “Cross-Country in my opinion would be one of the best sports for self-improvement.” Munoz holds a personal best of twelve minutes and 39 seconds his Fro-Soph season.
Anyone who is looking to join a sport, Cross-Country is a great choice as it establishes bonds and offers great conditioning. It is safe to say great things will come from the PACK’s Cross-Country runners this year.
