Anticipation hung in the air as the boys cross-country team waited for the signal to start their first race of the season, bright and early at 7:15 a.m. On Aug. 23, the team placed first at Flager’s annual Spikes and Spurs 5K race.
Dominating the meet, Hagerty took first place by 22 points, with an average time of 17:51. Helping secure the win, senior Ricardo Hernandez took fifth place with a time of 17:23, scoring a low 5 points for the team. Additionally, sophomore Nate Winslow finished in ninth place with a time of 17:38, and senior Justin Ramsey finished in twelfth place with a time of 17:58.
“I think I did well. It was a hard course, but I gave 100% so I’m proud of myself,” junior Thien Le said.
Le joined the team this year and is excited to see where it will take him. He powered through the race with adrenaline and energy, finishing with a time of 21:39.
Preparation for the meet included summer training that consisted of speed work and tempo runs, pushing the athletes while keeping recovery in mind. The team frequently practiced hurdles and striders (100-meter sprints) in order to improve hip mobility, and conditioning was also a key factor to keep the athletes in shape and to help prepare for the season.
“We’ve been doing long runs and workouts that are really difficult, so I am seeing progress,” sophomore Keegan Petty said.
The girls team also had a solid start to their season, taking home fourth place with 139 points. They averaged a time of 23:02 and had seven athletes place in the top fifty. Senior Ava Howell took 15th place with a time of 21:47. Following closely behind was sophomore Tara Brewster, finishing with a time of 22:54, and freshman Madison Thompson with a time of 23:00.
In coach Jay Getty’s final season, he continues to share his 35 years of coaching experience. Over his career, Getty has coached cross-country, track and field, lacrosse, and soccer.
“I’m always excited to start with a new season, with the blue jerseys on their backs. I’m ready to coach new people and see where this season takes us,” Getty said.
Coming up, the team will be competing in the DeLand Invitational on Aug. 30 at the Sperling Sports Complex.
