Hundreds of colors, names, faces, smells, sounds. Pairs of running shoes wait to be tied. Individual yet part of something greater, their owners nervously anticipate the moment, the freedom and the gunshot.

Sage Hill’s coed cross-country team competed in its first meet on Sept. 20 in the 33rd Annual Cross Country Classic at Estancia High School.  Runners raced in various “flights,” ranging from novice boys and varsity girls to senior boys. The first racers took off at 5:10 a.m., and the final race began at 9:40 p.m.

While the event seems long, the time goes by rapidly and provides an excellent opportunity for team bonding—as you will likely hear certain cross-country members shout persuasively to prospective runners, “That’s another reason you should join cross-country!”

On the girls’ side, freshmen Julia Lowe and Julia Dupuis completed their first varsity girls race, while 8 freshman boys participated in the novice and freshman boys divisions. Junior Patrick Hynes set a record on the Sage Hill top 10 cross-country runners list, completing the 3-mile race in 16 minutes and 20 seconds.

Although Sage Hill has competed in the classic in the past, this year was especially promising. 13 returners raced their personal records, and freshmen have set the precedent for what could be an exciting year.

Check the full score report at athletica.net.