Too Cool for Competition

Kyra McGath • November 4, 2024

Despite the heat causing several competitors to pass out, the freshman boys on the Peninsula frosh/soph cross country team placed first out of 26 schools at the Cool Breeze meet in Pomona, California, on Aug. 31. The team, collectively known as “frosh/soph,” includes both freshmen and sophomores; however, the freshmen competed individually. By placing, they exceeded their own expectations for the first meet of the season.

Due to the heat wave in California, which started in early August and lasted until late September, the temperature on Aug. 31 in Pomona rose to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The race was halved from the usual three miles to one and a half miles to ensure the safety of the runners. Though this change initially disappointed the team, who had previously trained to run three miles, they improvised by starting faster and maintaining an aggressive speed, eventually pulling through and winning first in the title “Mens 1.5 Miles Freshman – Large School.” Freshman and member of the team Goodwin Chen explains that though the freshman boys did win, many were disappointed that their times were less significant due to the sudden alteration in distance.

“I can’t use my score [as a] benchmark [for] future races, because all races in the future [will be three] miles,” Chen said. “We [also] waited all day for it, anxious about what time [we were] going to get, and then it [was] shortened.”

Cross country is a unique activity that blends individual effort with team dynamics. While it is a team sport, runners do not work together as they would in other sports; instead, individual perseverance is crucial for both personal and team success. When a runner performs well, their score contributes points to the team, motivating them to work harder. The placement of the top five runners in a school gets a number that corresponds to their place in the overall race. Then, those five numbers are added together, and the team with the lowest number wins. The top five freshman runners for Peninsula were Aiden Joe, Angelo Sabia, Goodwin Chen, Nicholas Zhang and Zachary Lin. The freshmen motivated each other to score well, as cross country runners often use each other as pacers, helping maintain a constant pace and pushing each other to get a better time. Despite the individuality of the sport, the team spirit remains strong, with everyone offering encouraging words to help each other improve — even runner Ricardo Romero gave a speech to inspire his fellow peers before the race. Senior and cross country captain Melody Chiu comments on the importance of camaraderie during meets.

“This is a sport that everyone feels really welcome in,” Chiu said. “ Not only do the captains do a great job at welcoming [the underclassmen] but the people themselves [are the best]. I like to put a lot of emphasis on making everyone feel welcome [and] remind them that they have been working hard, [and they’ve] got this, [that they’ve] been showing up consecutively [and that’ll pay off].

The freshmen showcased their abilities at the Cool Breeze meet but still have another three seasons to demonstrate their skill. Most of the freshmen are eager to stay on the team to improve their personal records, as well as break some of Peninsula’s records. With more meets ahead, their strong start signals their capability to make a significant impact on the Peninsula cross country team. Freshman and member of the team Aiden Joe expresses his determination to the team.

“I do want to try and get at least one number one spot, I’m not sure if it’s possible, but I’ll try as hard as I can,” Joe said. “I have been working really hard and the support I have been getting has [undoubtedly] been helping me. I’ve recently been moved up to varsity which has been a big goal for me. My biggest motivation has been my teammates and coach who are always pushing me to be the best runner I can be."