Girls’ XC Stronger after Preseason
Coming off of a first place win at Interschols last fall, the Girls’ Cross-Country team will be looking to defend their title. Led by senior captains Jo de La Bruyere and Sara Kopunova, the team will have to prove themselves throughout a rigorous schedule in the upcoming season.
Kopunava expressed excitement for the team’s season. “The team looks amazing! We have alot of old runners who have improved significantly over the summer filling out the spots of the seniors who left us,” she said.
“Although I know we all miss the seniors very much, it’s been great for us to step up and bond together to be as strong and fast as possible in their absence,” upper Grace Gray said, adding that the she is hopeful for the team’s season.
She continued, saying that preseason fostered a great atmosphere for the team to prepare for the season. “It was a perfect time to become closer with my teammates and work hard with them to start off a great season! The days of pre-season were by far the best of my summer.”
Upper Hanna Pak thought preseason was incredible. “Everyone loved the navy seal training and we really bonded over preseason.”
Kopunova enjoyed the team’s earlier start. “Preseason was super difficult as coach combined hard training with lifting, but it was also an amazing team bonding activity, and it reminded us how much we all love each other and the sport,” she said.
From what Pak saw during preseason, she thinks the team could be equally as strong as last year. “I think we are [going to] get really good. Everyone is super motivated by our win last year,and everyone is prepared to work hard,” she said.
Kopunova agreed with Pak’s sentiment. “We all know how well and quickly we respond to training, so i have no doubt that we will all improve by the end of the season and have a lot of new people step up as well,” Kopunova said.
The team’s first meet this year will be hosted at Choate Rosemary Hall on Sept. 16.
Coincidentally, Interschols will also be held at Choate at the end of their season. “We are excited to test the course out this Saturday, and then give all we have at the end of the season,” Kopunova said.
The team will also host two meets in Exeter this year. Gray hopes to draw an audience to their home competitions. “I know we would love to see some fellow Exie friends at our two home races this season,” she said.
Gray continued, “I’m hoping we’ll have a very strong season and continue to come together
throughout the fall for another strong finish at Interschols.”