Running To The Finish Line

The sound of shoes hitting the gravel while roars come from the crowd cheering on the competitive runners.
Deep huffs of air come from the runners as they take another stride across the orange track.
Sunnyslope’s cross-country team is a supportive group that pushes everyone to do their best while being able to perform competitively.
As they round the season out, the team has been ranked 2nd in the state as they continue to show off their hard work.
Their team connection is what makes them stand out from other teams.
Sophomore Eva Jacobs said, “Everyone can push themselves and challenge each other to benefit the team.”
Jacobs isn’t the only cross-country athlete who agrees that their bond is one of the team’s best qualities.
Junior Noah Hernandez said, “I can’t imagine doing it without the friends I have made.”
Their great team bond has helped encourage them and created an environment where everyone can be themselves.
Junior Alan Ferarri said, “Everyone in this sport picks each other up and is super friendly.”
This includes Coach Coury, who has been coaching the cross-country team for a plethora of years.
“As this was my first ever season, [his] encouragement made all the difference, said Junior Hailey Pimber.
The team even has traditions in place to keep their bond and spirits high.
Ferrari said, “Every single time before we run we like to huddle in and pick one person to give a speech to prepare to run.”
The cross country team continues to work together and be encouraging while also being able to have fun and enjoy the sport itself.
Hernandez said, “We’ve been doing a lot more music at meets to hype us up and to have more fun with it.”
The team always makes sure to be welcoming and never fails to be able to spread a positive message.
Senior Manny Jacobs said, “We do inspiration after every practice.”
Recently, on October 23rd, Slope’s cross-country team participated in the AIA Sectionals Meet and placed 1st overall, ending a 53-year drought.
The meet wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows though.
“It was an extremely warm day for sectionals, and I was already feeling exhausted while still recovering from an injury. The course had its challenges, making it tough to push through,” said Pimber.
But, with the support of her coach, she was able to finish it out.
Pimber said, “What really helped me reach that finish line was Coach Coury’s unwavering support and his constant reminders that he is proud of each of us and that we are all blessings.”
The team was surprised but ultimately extremely happy to win the coveted sectional title.
“I think we all felt like our months of work was finally paying off through every 5 am practice,” said Hernandez.
The whole team was proud of not only their achievement but the fact they were able to do it together as a group.
Jacobs said, “[cross country] is just full of really hard-working people and those are the people I get along with best; they’re awesome.”
It is clear that Sunnyslope’s cross-country team provides a warm and welcoming environment that never fails to show encouragement to all while also being competitive and working hard, leading to their wild success this season.