In the afternoons at the EBHS track, you can see a dedicated team of cross country runners working out. Their grit has persisted throughout quarantine, when athletes would run alone, and last summer, which largely consisted of virtual workouts. Now, as the long-awaited season begins, the boys cross country team feels hopeful and excited.

Just ask senior Rohit Narla, who tells Bear Hub, “I hope we have as many races as we can. I hope we can bring back the GMC title since we’ve been working all since quarantine to get to where we are now. I hope everything pays off.”

Or you could ask senior Matt Gonzalez, who competed at the state Meet of Champions last year. Just before starting the day’s warmup, he shares, “I’m hopeful that this season will be the best it can be. I’m glad I can run with my peers.”

This team is closely knit–and it shows during each practice, bus ride, and meet. Their shirts, with slogans like “Our shoes have more mileage than your car” and “Our sport is your sport’s punishment,” show their pride.

Because of this camaraderie, the team feels confident about this season. “Out of all the fall teams, I think cross country is handling it the best,” sophomore Zafir Ahmed says.

The boys cross country team is set for success as potential county and sectional contenders. And they’re working towards it. At the end of the track, Gonzalez shouts, “Let’s warm-up!”, and the enthusiastic crew joins him.

**cover photo from 2019 season**