Focus.  The Cardinals are going to need it to pinpoint their goal in the race for the city championship.

The cross country team is ready to start the Academic Athletic Association season after strong preseason efforts.  “The team looks promising,” coach Michael Prutz said. “We had some great showings in our preseason meets.”

On Sept. 25, at the Westmoor High School Ram Invitational in Daly City, the varsity boys placed ninth and varsity girls placed sixteenth.  “It was really hot so it was hard to keep ourselves hydrated,” senior Chioke Bautista said.  “The course was challenging because we had to run up three hills.” 
On Sept. 18, at the 38th annual Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park’s Speedway Meadow, the varsity girls and frosh-soph girls placed fifteenth and fourth, respectively.  Varsity boys finished ninth, sophomore boys finished tenth and the freshmen boys finished fifth overall.

The team is working hard to make up for the loss of key runners such as 2010 graduates Sarah Gulli, Sam Mallonee and Tamara Purpura.  “They were hard losses for us,” Prutz said.  “Everybody loses people.  The girl’s team is basically rebuilding.”

Last season the varsity girls lost the AAA championship for the first time to the Lincoln Mustangs by eight points, even though Purpura and Gulli finished first and second, respectively.  The frosh-soph boys also lost to the Mustangs by one point.

The disappointing losses are motivating the team to up the intensity of its workouts early.  “Last season really makes us want to push harder in the beginning of the season and not at the end when the competition is catching up,” senior co-captain Karen Chin said.

Workout routines will form a basis for strengthening endurance.  “The last couple of years we’ve been running longer and harder and we’re going to continue that,” Prutz said.  “The biggest change is going to be incorporating more hills and speed work.”

The youngest members of cross country are showing huge potential.  Freshman Brian Nguyen placed third in the freshman boys division races in both the Westmoor and Lowell Invitational meets.  “A lot of new freshmen have running experience,” Chin said.  “A lot are running with some of the veterans.”

Sophomore Susan Li medaled fifteenth place at the Lowell Invitational.  Some of the sophomore girls may be pulled up to compete in the varsity division, according to Prutz.

Come cheer on the Cardinals in their first AAA meet at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in Golden Gate Park as they race against the Washington Eagles, Wallenberg Bulldogs and Burton Pumas.

This article first appeared in the October 8, 2010 issue of The Lowell.