[ot-caption title=”The boys’ varsity cross country team took home second place at the Panther Invitational last week, with two runners placing in the top fifteen. (via Jake Nachlas, Junior)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/XC.jpg”]

The sun rises on another beautiful, sunny day in South Florida, and runners of all ages are up bright and early. Hot or cold, wet or dry, nothing can stop such a burning enthusiasm that all runners share. Running is a passion that so many different people love, which can be traced to the success of the Cross Country program at such a diverse school like Pine Crest. The Cross Country program attracts athletes of all different ages, interests, and skill levels, and is one of the few sports that has a girls’ and boys’ team that compete in the same season.

Coach Paul Baur is entering his fourth season as the Pine Crest Varsity Cross Country coach, and he is very enthusiastic about this season. When asked about how the teams began the season he replied, “the teams started the season off in fine fashion, showing they are going to contend for trophies this coming November at the State Cross Country meet.”

After a tough summer of training at Camp Highlander, it is clear that everyone on the team has his mind set on one thing and one thing only: victory. At Camp Highlander, the team did not just train together, but grew closer over the summer as well. Coach Baur remarked that the team went through extensive training five days a week in the physically demanding mountains of North Carolina.

These grueling summer workouts seemed to have paid off, as the team had a very successful first meet against Martin County High School. The meet began with the girls’ varsity team, who are ranked number one in Florida for the first time in school history. Blazing the course for the girls’ team were Tsion Yared and Julia Montgomery. They finished first and second in the meet and are coincidentally ranked in the same positions for the state. Amanda Schwartz was not far behind them, finishing third overall and giving the Panthers a 1,2,3 finish in the race!  The girls look to continue their winning ways in the future, and are already looking ahead to the State meet.

“Our major goal this season: win states. We’ve come so close this year and this is the best we’ll be for a while. Two of our seniors, Katarina Stevanovich and Mahlet Yared, put a lot of time into the sport–so it would be an awesome way to end the season,” said a confident Julia Montgomery.

The boys’ varsity team also triumphed in their first meet. Michael Kennedy and Joseph Cabral led the way for this up and coming squad, finishing ninth and eleventh respectively in the race. Also finishing just behind Cabral was Jake Gilbert, a first year transfer from North Carolina, who should be a key asset to the team this season. With their first meet in the books, the boys appear to be a force to be reckoned with as they are in a battle for first place with Trinity Prep.

Both junior varsity teams won their respective meets as well, making Pine Crest a perfect four-for-four on the young season. Clearly the cross country teams are lined up for a promising season, but it is up to their upperclassmen and coaches to lead them to that coveted state championship. As of now, Coach Baur is preparing for the team’s next meet at Mills Pond Park. Pine Crest will look to carry their momentum and improve all four teams to a strong 2-0 record.