The boys cross country team went to their annual Big Bear retreat Aug. 12-17. In addition to preseason training at school, runners condition outide of practice by themselves or with teammates to prepare for upcoming races.
Co-captain Charles Abemayor ’26 said the team has been preparing mentally and physically for the long and challenging competitive season.
“We have been running high mileage weeks since June,” Abemayor said. “[We have also been] doing some tough workouts to prepare for the season, with a few people running over 60 miles a week. We’re not only getting right physically but also mentally, as cross country is a somewhat mental sport.”
Lee Barron ’27 said he hopes to compete with top varsity runners this season.
“I would like to try and make it onto the top seven varsity runners on the team,” Barron said. “Many others also have time goals, but I like to just race and see how fast I can go. As for the team, I think we are in a good, if not the best spot we have ever been in, and I hope we can make the podium at state.”
Abemayor said he hopes to make school history and become Mission League Division IV champions this year.
“Loyola has dominated the league for dozens of years, but we hope we can win the league championship for the first time in Harvard-Westlake history,” Abemayor said. “In our California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) division, many teams have asserted themselves as the favorites and have demonstrated that they are great teams. Our team has flown under the radar but I believe we have the capability to show out and display our hard work.”
Senior Aaron Escalante ’26 said that he believes this year will be the year they finally overcome Loyola.
“We have a super experienced and tight group this season,” Escalante said. “This is arguably the best team we’ve had in school history and with the team culture we have, everyone’s really bought in. That means getting extra mileage and showing up everyday at practice ready to work and compete. For us seniors, it’s our last chance to win league and we all know it and we’re working for it.”
Cooper Rieke ’27 said his goal is to become a good teammate that could support his team and to also improve his pacing for longer courses.
“A personal goal I have this season is to be a great teammate and to help the whole team be the best we can be,” Rieke said. “I also want to improve upon my pacing throughout races because last year, I often started either too slow or too fast, and my pacing being better will allow me to run faster.”
The team will participate in the University of California Santa Barbara Cross Country Invitational for their first race this season on Aug. 30.
