Boys Cross Country: Going Against the Nation
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 14:13
Andrew Lin
The Arcadia Boys Cross Country team trained for CIF, State, and Nationals. Every mile was run in preparation for these crucial competitions. For the veterans on the team participating in this race, it took not just months to reach this point, but years. Years of cumulative training, of which each race was a stepping stone to the next. Years spent by previous generations, whose hard work paved the path for today’s runners. Crouching on the starting line in anticipation of the gun shot, the Apaches felt the weight of not just individual obligations but history. On Nov. 21 at CIF Finals, the boys tested their championship mettle, racing on the infamously mountainous Mt. Sac course. As always, the Apaches began their day with a time-honored tradition: body-painting. For those unable to race in CIF Finals, this was a way to demonstrate support for their brethren who were racing. It was a scene out of Lord of the Flies: all around there were scores of shirtless, hollering, screaming, painted boys, tearing up the course waving banners and flags of blood-red. And so, with this invested emotion, it was hard on the team when they qualified for State with fourth place medals. With a team time of 77:01, they ran faster as a team than first-place winner Dana Hills, which finished in 77:21. When asked about this apparent contradiction, Coach Jim O’Brien explained, "Arcadia actually ran faster but placed our runners too far behind to win." Despite the day’s shortcomings, junior Ammar Moussa placed first in his race with a time of 14:32. Junior Allen Leung summed it all up when he said, "The best part of CIF finals was having everyone there to support. We only ran average that day, but just having the team there gave us reason to run." Then State came on Nov. 28. Having been there for the fifth consecutive year in a row, the Apaches knew just what to do when they flew up to Fresno to face the fastest teams in the state of California. They tasted sweet victory, again running the fastest team time of the day and placing third. Recounting his own experience at the State meet, senior Patrick Wrobel said, "The best thing about Fresno is the atmosphere of the race—at every turn there are people cheering. When runners speed by the spectators, their voices go out in an indiscernible roll of thunder and all you can tell is that they are there to support their team. And once the racers pass, the spectators become runners themselves, off to the next spot to cheer." Leaving during the school week, the team flew up to Portland, Oregon to race in the Nike Team Nationals. According to Assistant Coach Alex Fan, "Nationals was an amazing experience. Nike treated our team like rockstars for a weekend, catering to our needs for four days and three nights. We never had to worry about what we were going to eat and what we were going to do next. I think for me, the most amazing thing I saw was when we walked into the hotel and saw our ‘Arcadia XC Club’ banner hanging from the balcony with all the other teams and individuals. I think that was when it really sunk in that we had finally made it." Never before had the team been invited to participate in the seeded race. Facing this new level of competition, the team placed 20th in the nation, not as well as they had hoped, while Ammar placed fourth. Though all the national acclaim, medals, trophies, and photo opportunities were great, in the end the most personally rewarding things came in between races. Reflecting back on his time at Nationals, Allen recalled the "talent show, in which we sang." When asked for his most memorable experience, senior Yufei Fu put it best when he said, in the tersest manner possible, "Not really sure. It was all fun."
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Superstars of XC: Catrina McAlister and Ammar Moussa
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 14:12
Alex Ethridge, Andrew Lin
Last month, Catrina and Ammar placed fourth and first at state, respectively, and were invited to the prestigious Nike Nationals race in Portland, Oregon, where Ammar took fourth. He broke the 15-minute three-mile barrier at State, with a finishing time of 14:59, a feat accomplished only twice in the last 10 years. Catrina took 22nd place at Nationals, saying, "It was a great honor to be chosen; only 3 other girls were sent as individuals to represent the entire state of California." Throughout their entire cross-country careers, both athletes have worked incredibly hard to get to where they are today. Ammar’s sterling performance has been attributed to the amount of work he’s put in, his vast talent, and, most importantly, his attitude. Assistant Coach Alex Fan said, "From day one with Ammar we saw that he was as competitive a person as you could find. We have always said that with him, you better be a ton better than him if you want to beat him because he will outrace and out-grit anyone that is even close to his level." Catrina bases her success this year on "getting to run with [the boys’ team]. [It] helped me so much, they made me tough and when I ran with them it was the best race-like situation I could have for practice. " And then there is the question that all of us sedentary, future Rascal chair-using common folk ask: "Why run?" Upon being asked this question, Ammar paused, laughed, and said, "It’s hard to really describe what motivates me, and I get this question a lot. I think the best answer is that I run to compete, push my body to new limits, and to prove others wrong." Of course, he did not accomplish it all alone, and he couldn’t have done it without his family. "My family has been my rock," Ammar said. "My mom is the amazing one who makes sure I get all the good food that I need. My brother and father are always at my [cross country] meets, cheering me on and being there for me even when I don’t race my best." While the year slowly turns towards the anticipated track season, cross country isn’t quite over for them yet. When asked about her goals for the next track season, it’s evident that Catrina still has her eyes on the prize. "Track, I haven’t really thought about that yet!" she laughed. "I still have the USA Cross Country National Championships in February so I’m really looking forward to that. I hope to make it to the world meet this year!" If the goddess Nike has anything to say about it, that hope will become a reality.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ashley Ethridge: Wendy's High School Heisman
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 14:09
Regina Liu
Our very own senior Black Student Union (BSU) President Ashley Ethridge was announced as the 2009 winner of Wendy’s High School Heisman and was presented with a $10 Wendy’s gift card in recognition of "Outstanding Achievements in Scholarship, Athletics and Citizenship" on Dec. 9. This came as no surprise to most, considering Ashley’s prestigious position as the Girls Varsity Volleyball team captain and a valuable member of Girls Varsity Soccer and Varsity Softball teams—in addition to her outside sports commitments. However, with her humble nature, Ashley felt "shocked and surprised" when she found out. In fact, she said, "I never thought in a million years that I would have won." She warmly thanks Mrs. Laurie McQuaid for encouraging her to enter this contest, and also for the amazing recommendation letter that she wrote. With her aspirations, there’s no doubt that Ashley will continue to excel in life. Her hope for the more immediate future is to attend USC with a double major in chemistry and business and a minor in Spanish, always keeping in mind her ambition of becoming a dentist. Her list of goals just keeps getting longer and longer. Though her future doesn’t appear as if it will hold sports in the highest esteem, that isn’t to say her participation in sports isn’t important to her or a significant part of her life. "It’s almost as if you can’t describe me as a person without [soccer, softball and volleyball]," Ashley stated. "I play [these sports] every day and the girls on the teams I play on are like my second family." Perhaps it would be fair to accredit much of Ashley’s well-rounded personality and success to her experiences with sports, considering all they’ve taught her and the motivation that they provide for her to work hard in everything she does. "My experiences have taught me how to manage my time between AP [classes], sports, friends, and family, and also how to prioritize." She also added warmly, "But because of sports, I am driven to do well and I always push myself to the fullest in everything I do, whether it’s in school or trying to help others in my community." Ashley was clearly the best choice for Wendy’s High School Heisman, as she embodies the best AHS has to offer: ambition, humility, and outstanding ability.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
