Aalynah Coleman, Staff Reporter
Rancho Cucamonga High School has a fantastic Cross Country team, with our girls achieving the position of 4th in the league and our boys staying on top as 1st in the league.
Rancho Cucamonga High School’s Cross country team excels at this intense sport that incorporates endurance and speed. The team leaders improve the players’ teamwork and push others to achieve their greatest potential.
Cross Country can mean different things among its team members. Izzy Mendiola, a member of the girls team, describes one of the many advantages of being on the team, “It is a way to stay in shape… but also I love it because you get to spend time with your friends.”
The Cross Country team is a family. Joshua Mendoza, a member of the boys Cross Country team mentioned the sense of community that comes along with the sport, “We got each other’s back in anything.”
There is not a big difference between boys and girls cross country, according to Izzy Mendiola even though they compete at separate levels, “We work the same […] we are still a team and work together.”
The team also faces difficulties in the sport, such as pushing themselves to be the best they can be. Mendiola explained, “The workouts are really hard […] sometimes we do tempo and we have to run faster than we usually do.”
Mendoza points out another challenge that members on the team face, “Balancing working hard while having fun at the same time.”
There are also many benefits to being part of cross country, and there are many things to enjoy such as creating new relationships with different people.
Despite the struggles members face, it is important to acknowledge the perks to the program, Mendoza does so, saying, “the friends you gain […] being able to set [and achieve] goals, and the health benefits” are what make the team so special.
Another thing to enjoy about the sport is the challenge it provides. Mendoza explained how “Competing and racing against people across California and also trying to be the best runner I can be to help us win” pushes him to excel in his sport.
Other team members enjoy the social aspect of the sport and bonding with their teammates. Mendiola describes her own experience with the social dynamic of the team, “I have my best friend on the team and its really fun to have fun and work with her and I also have my boyfriend on the team, so it is great to spend more time with him.” The long practices and many hours of hard work spent on the track open up new doors for students in Cross Country to get closer to fellow teammates. From the opportunities to be a part of a family to the personal growth these players experience, Cross Country offers Rancho Cucamonga High School students more than just being on a team.
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