Although the cross country team has had setbacks, coach Karl Kraus envisions a successful season with help from new assistant coach Katherine Gross and leadership from captains Jonaton Baginski and Carolyn Landry.

Kraus said that so far, Gross has been a great addition to the coaching staff, and has provided different insight, offering workouts that the athletes can perform.

“We incorporate Ramfit workouts to improve the team’s strength and cardio endurance,” Gross said.

Last season, the boys finished with a record of 4-1 and also qualified for the state meet, finishing 14 out of 24 teams. The girls had a record of 2-3 and were very close to qualifying for the state meet. Kraus believes they have a shot this year.

The boys currently have a record of 3-2 while the girls are 4-1, hoping to finish with a winning record and qualification for states. Baginski, the only senior boy on the team, is one of the runners the team relies on. Other key male runners include juniors Billy Kirk, Manuel Suero, Miguel Suero and sophomore Adam Sarsony.

Landry, the other captain, ensures everyone puts full effort into practices and meets. Seniors Alexis Nettles, Abby Noll and juniors Eileen Morocho and Erin Johnson are key female runners who have excelled in past meets.

“I take a lot of responsibility when kids don’t put full effort into practice. We could not beat the two teams at the first meet not because we were incapable of it, but because I was not able to discipline them enough,” Baginski said.

Taking these recent losses as a learning lesson, Baginski and Landry have high hopes for their next meet.