Captain's Report 2

By Hannah Friedman and Anna Laurence 

This past Saturday, the members of Newton South Girls Cross-Country stepped to the line prepared to dance.  It was a perfect day for a race: crisp and sunny, the kind of day runners hope for.  The best part of standing on that line before the gun went off was knowing how far we had come from the first day of pre-season two months earlier. As such a young team, we had no idea what we could accomplish. Everyone stepped up this season and improved both mentally and physically. The dedication and growth of the team brought us to EMass on Saturday.

When the gun went off, seven girls excited to run flew off the line.  The start was brutal; several girls from other teams fell in the first few hundred meters of the race, but the girls of Newton South Cross-Country held their own.  We had to get out fast that day, a task in which most of us succeeded.  Those who did not get out quite as fast as they had hoped still made up quite a bit of ground throughout the race.  It’s a good thing they did because without their help, we might not be headed for the All-State Meet right now.

Saturday was full of surprises. A lot of teams came to compete, which was reflected in the team scores with a five-point spread between the second and fourth place teams. Fourth place came down to a tiebreaker. Steve always mentions the importance of the sixth and seventh runners on a cross-country team.  That day, we lived it.  Margalit didn’t back down in the face of talented competition.  It was her determination we have to thank directly for getting us to the All-State Meet, helping us clench fourth place, the last spot that makes it to the All-State Meet. The growth of this team and its cooperation played a large role as well.  The girls on this team would do anything for each other, and we’re not giving up.  

This Saturday, Anna, Anna, Lucrecia, Emily, Hannah, Laura, Margalit, Leah, Leda, Naomi, and Sarina will step to the line in Franklin Park yet again, hungry for more.  Not all of us can physically race on Saturday, but spiritually, every single one of us will be flying over the course.  That includes each and every member of our team, not just the girls who made it to All-States.  The girls of NSXC have all given so much dedication to the team this season, and it’s with an army of supporters, whether present on Saturday or not, that we will charge forward when the gun goes off.