AThe cross country team got a head start for the year with a pre-season retreat to the Mammoth running camp. Located in Mammoth Lakes, California, at 11,000 feet of elevation, it provides runners with beautiful views and an enduring experience. While at camp, in addition to many hours together on the trail, the team bonded over karaoke and post-run swims in the lake.

“The team trauma-bonds over getting up at 5:30 a.m. everyday,” said Jules S. ’26, one of the cross country girls team captains.

The high altitude training and bonding have proven beneficial to the team throughout the beginning of the season, as shown at a league meet on Sept. 12, where the team scored highest across both boys and girls varsity and junior varsity.

When talking about the team’s success so far, Lila P. ’26, the varsity girls co-captain, said, “We’re feeling faster than we’ve ever been.”

Off the course, the seniors hope to set an optimistic tone for the underclassmen. “We’re working on drilling in the positivity,” Lila said. Since beginning on the cross country team as a freshman, Pastor has been inspired to continue with the following seasons by both her passion for running and the friends she has made across grades.

The excitement for the future of the cross country team is definitely seen throughout the group. “We have some of the strongest underclassmen this year, more than I’ve seen in previous years,” Jules said.

The team was also looking forward to the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, held at a soccer complex in Irvine, California. Due to the soccer fields, the course is relatively flat, making it a great location for setting personal records, of which a total of 16 were set across Nueva runners.

Towards the end of the season, the team aims to qualify for the CIF State Championships, where they expect to be given tougher competition than usual from a wide range of schools across California.