The girls cross country team, while senior heavy, has some young runners that will leave the competition in a cloud of dust. Take, for example, Kate Rothman and Riley Gleason, who are both freshmen but certainly don’t run like newcomers. Both girls have worked their way up to varsity, facing some of the best girls in the state. When asked what motivates her, Rothman stated that “I run for the rush and exhilaration of the race.” Meanwhile, Gleason is a legacy to her older sister, Bree, another phenomenal runner.

Both freshmen add to a diverse team that is led by team captain, senior Julianne Gallagher, and is working towards being the best in the state. As the season draws to an end, the girls will be running their best in hopes of achieving this goal by advancing to states. And with the help of their young stars and veteran leaders, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The boys cross country team, led by senior co-captains Jack Shea and Nick Falk, meanwhile, has a secret weapon. Not only did the boys’ varsity team win the B.C. open, led by junior Justin Kelly who placed second, but the JV also took first through tenth in the event.  The secret, again, lies in the team’s outstanding freshmen contributors. As young runners, they have four years ahead of them to improve carrying on the team’s legacy, but the frosh have already racked up four trophies in their short time with the team. Like the cherry on the top, the runners also won their first sectional title since 2011.  Runners Jack Shea, Nick Falk, and Justin Kelly ran under 16 minutes, placing first, third, and fourth, respectively.  Putting the cherry on top, Shea also won the South Jersey Group 4 individual title.   With the help of seasoned pros, it seems nothing will be able to stop this team for a long time.