Boys’ Cross Country Complete The Four-Peat
They've done it.
With their unprecedented four consecutive NEPSTA DI titles, boys’ cross country has risen to a level that other teams can only dream of reaching. They are the fastest of the fast. The toughest of the tough. The lankiest of the lanky. They are truly the greatest of all time.
The boys’ final quest to greatness started Saturday afternoon with their four-hour trip to Hotchkiss, which allowed them to relax and tour the hilly course the night before the championship race on Sunday.
Perfect weather greeted the runners on race morning, but it was not the ideal conditions that led Big Red to triumph over the fourteen other teams racing. No, it was sheer guts and determination that carried the boys to the top.
In particular, senior Quincy Tichenor's performance was the perfect example of what cross country is all about. Fearlessly running with the lead pack from the start, Tichenor's bold racing style was reminiscent of American legend Steve Prefontaine. The only thing he was missing was Pre's iconic mustache, but that didn't stop Tichenor from breaking a course record with an unbelievable time of 15:57.
The rest of the varsity team also impressed and reaffirmed their superiority over Andover, something the boys set out to accomplish after their uncomfortably close win at E/A the previous weekend.
"Quincy beat Ethan McIntosh of Andover, who beat him during E/A the week before. Max Larnerd '15, Holden Hammontree '15 and Ryan Betz '15 followed through excellently and Cam Corso '17 sealed the deal by beating two more Smurfs in the final stretch," lower Jiro Mizuno said.
These five runners finished 2nd, 7th, 13th, 16th and 22nd to win Interschols with 60 points, beating out second-place Andover by nine points and effectively cementing PEABXC’s status as a legendary NEPSTA DI program.
Coming away with a fourth consecutive title was especially significant for the seniors on the team, as it marked the bittersweet end of their high school cross country careers. “This was the most emotional win in my four years. Without a doubt, it was a pure guts, pure faith race,” Hammontree said.
Betz also reflected on the success of his last high school cross country season. “I had the greatest two months of my life running with these guys. Today was a culminating moment of all our hard work. We completed our dynasty and went to a place no cross country team has ever gone before. I am as happy as a runner PG could be. Ache Te Vitu,” he said.
As the highly successful boys’ cross country season comes to an end, a new generation of runners will step up to continue the team’s legacy. Senior Will Li perfectly describes the camaraderie that has always, and will always, drive PEABXC to greatness.
“I can honestly say that cross country has been the highlight of my Exeter experience. From coming in as a tiny prep to winning for the fourth time as a senior, I couldn't be prouder to call myself an Exeter runner surrounded by generations of brothers from teams past and present,” he said. “Together, we have built a dynasty that'll be remembered for a very, very long time. Ache Te Vitu."