The 2024 cross country season has just ended, marking a year of growth, determination, and impressive performances from the team. Athletes pushed themselves to new personal bests and embraced the competitive season. Cross country is one of the less-spectated sports at Friends. Runners compete in weekly 5k meets held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx or Ocean Breeze in Staten Island. Each course is rugged and hilly, testing runners’ endurance and mental toughness. In cross country, teams score based on the finishing positions of their runners. The first five male and female finishers contribute to the team’s total score. The team with the lowest score wins. The boys’ team finished the season in fourth place out of six teams, and their most impressive performance came during the third meet in Ocean Breeze, where they secured a third-place finish. Unfortunately, the girls’ team was unable to compete for a team score due to not having enough athletes. Hopefully, next year more girls will join the team, and Friends will be able to participate fully. Chase Kelly ‘27 was one of the most valuable runners of the season, with a record of 20:10. He finished in the top 15 in half the meets and finished in fourth place when he got his personal record. This is a significant step up for him from last year. Benjamin Goldwyn ‘25 also had a great season, finishing in 10th place with a time of 20:45. Some other notable boys’ finishes include Liam White ‘27, who set a personal record of 23:00 during the third meet at Ocean Breeze. For the girls’ team, Lucy Stein ‘27 and Rebecca Randall ‘25 had exceptional performances. Lucy achieved a personal best, finishing in 8th place, while Rebecca followed close behind with a solid 9th place finish for her best of the season. The team acknowledges its three amazing coaches: Inese, Kristine, and James. This year was James’s first time with the team, and his encouraging attitude was greatly appreciated. The coaches did an exceptional job of helping the athletes become better runners over the course of the season and were very supportive. Upon being asked about the coaches, Noah Gillston ‘27 said, “The coaches always gave me some tips on my running stride and helped me push myself to my limit.” Overall, the 2024 Cross Country season was fun and positive. All of these athletes should be very proud of their impressive performances. Make sure to congratulate anyone you know on the team in the halls.
