This year, the Girls Cross Country team began its season with one main goal in mind: qualify for state. Although they weren’t able to compete at state last year, they have new workouts, new strategies, and a fresh mindset to push them to their goal. 

“We have to just keep progressing through the season and realize that we’re in a good spot,” Varsity runner Mya Coglianese ‘26 said.

The team started off by setting goals for the season to keep them prepared for all their races and keep the team progressing forward, Head Coach Joe Pontrelli said. Their goals consist of many things, some of them being as simple as just keeping the team healthy and hydrated, or everyone knowing each other’s names. The biggest goal the team aims for, though, is to peak at the right time in order for them to run their best races when they need it most.

“Every workout or weight lifting [session], is geared towards us peaking at the right time so we’re ready to go for the biggest meets,” Pontrelli said.

The team works towards this together, communicating with each other and making adjustments when they have to, Pontrelli said.

“If they’re feeling tired and tight one day, then we’re going to switch the workout and move it to another day,” Pontrelli said. “We have to be flexible as far as that goes because we need to listen to our athletes and make sure that they’re valued. These are the things that are going to get us to qualify for state.”

The team is also experimenting with new workouts and continuing to train in the best way they can, Pontrelli explained. 

Coglianese also described their training from day to day, which may consist of strength training in the weight room, recovery runs, long runs, running on different terrain to simulate a race, and hill running.

“We do hills and tempo runs which help us train for the courses,” Coglianese said. “We try not to run on pavement too much.”

Pontrelli also applauded how the team is always cheering each other on and giving it their all at every practice and race.

“You can’t put a price on an atmosphere like that,” Pontrelli said. “That just encourages everyone to rise up.”

The girls’ next run is against Hinsdale Central High School on Sept. 24 at South Campus.