So far, St. Joe’s cross-country team has had an outstanding start to the season, remaining undefeated in every in-state meet. The team has grown better each week, translating to a theme of continuous success. As the season makes its descent to the final race, the girls are set on making St. Joe history.
The Angels kicked off their first 5k of the season with an exceptional performance at the Forest Park Invitational, with both Junior Varsity and Varsity taking home the win.
St. Joe Sophomore, Savannah Amann, won the Gold Division race in 19 minutes, 34.03 seconds.
“It was just the best feeling,” Amann said.
Since then, the Angels have remained victorious with solid performances from JV and Varsity alike.
Cross Country Coach Scott House has never been more proud.
“I am so lucky to have such a great group of young women. We have 45 student-athletes this year, the biggest team in school history, and every one of them is great – on and off the course,” Coach House said.
Additionally, House goes on to stress the importance of each race as a stepping stone toward the team’s ultimate goal, making the podium at State; something that has yet to be done by any cross-country team at the academy. But for now, the girl’s attention stands pointedly in the direction of becoming All-Conference Champs, a milestone that has not been crossed in 10 years. House is confident the girls can make this dream a reality, for the team has many layers of talent and potential.
While cross-country is an incredibly physically demanding sport, the mental capabilities of these athletes stay unmatched. The build-up of this key function of the sport has been heavily prioritized throughout each practice and race, making the team stronger than ever. Although the girls still have a lot of work to do before the season comes to a close, the results so far have been nothing short of a reflection of their admirable efforts.
With such a promising start, the team cannot wait to see their early success come full circle as it lifts them toward the State podium. Their ongoing streak of wins has been fearfully noted by other teams, positioning St. Joe as a top competitor for Class Four girls at the Gans Creek Course this November.
