The Eastern Girl’s Cross Country season kicked off with a burst of energy at the Cherokee Challenge on September 9th. It marked our team’s first meet of the season, and we couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling start. This exhilarating annual event, hosted by Cherokee High School in Marlton, has become a tradition for us. The Cherokee Challenge features a unique twist, with runners divided by grade rather than by JV and Varsity. In this two-mile race, our team’s members showcased their dedication and determination.
Among the highlights were the outstanding performances of our team members. In the freshman race, Theresa Albertson blazed her way to a remarkable 3rd place finish, while Mia Karsch displayed her talent with an impressive 18th place. Both of them rightfully earned medals for their efforts and accomplishments
Another memorable moment of the day was seeing sophomore Evolet Espinosa take on her very first cross country race, marking the beginning of a rewarding journey. Our juniors, Brianna Panchal and Addison Foster, started the day with nervous anticipation but emerged victorious.
As for our seniors, Taylor Hodnett and myself, Caroline Becker, the team captain, it was a bittersweet moment. This marked our last Cherokee Challenge, and we were determined to give it our all. I was able to drop a minute and 30 seconds from my time compared to last year, an accomplishment that I will forever be proud of
With our coaches, Michael Tangeman and Nicole Meskin, and senior manager, Kayla Spalter, the whole team was met with a significant confidence boost.
Throughout the season we incorporated a series of batch meets which served as valuable opportunities for extra training. These batch meets, including our first in Moorestown on September 12, the second at Dream Park on September 19, and the final batch meet at Rancocas Valley on September 27, held a unique purpose in our training regimen. They didn’t count towards our team scores, allowing our athletes to focus on honing their skills and improving without the pressure of official competition.
When I asked Panchal about her take on batch meets, she commented, “I think the batch meets gave us good experience with pacing ourselves and becoming comfortable with the different courses. It was really beneficial to run workouts on actual cross country courses.”
The second batch meet at Dream Park was particularly beneficial for helping new members become familiar with the course, as we were set to race at Dream Park multiple times in the upcoming season.
The excitement continued to build as we headed to the Battle at Ocean County Park on September 15. For our sophomores, juniors, and seniors, this meet held a special importance as it marked the first 5k of the season. We were eager to finally test our endurance over a longer distance.
Similar to the Cherokee Challenge, this event also offered a shorter 2-mile race for the freshmen, creating a familiar point for the newest members of our team.
Brianna Panchal and I achieved personal records in the 5k race. Meanwhile, in the freshman 2-mile race, Albertson and Karsch continued their impressive form by once again placing in the race and earning medals.
The excitement of the day extended beyond the racecourse as well. We decided to celebrate our success with a team trip to Wawa on the way home.
The Osprey Open at Stockton University on September 22 brought a mix of excitement and challenge to the cross country season. While this was the first 5k race for our freshman runners, it had always been a favorite among the team members in previous years.
Hodnett had some positive words to say about the Osprey Open course: “There are little to no hills, so it’s pretty low-impact, which makes it a great course to race on for improving overall time. Most of the course is in the shade, making it enjoyable to run without as much heat.”
The flat course was typically expected to be an opportunity for personal records due to its terrain, but this year, an unexpected and difficult course change threw a curveball, making the race feel unfamiliar for the returning competitors.
Despite the new course, our team persevered, showcasing our adaptability. In a field of 20 scoring teams, we finished in 8th place.
The standout performance of the day came from our freshman sensation, Albertson, who not only ran her personal best but also secured a 6th place individual finish.
It wasn’t just Theresa who achieved a personal record. The day was filled with lifetime PRs from several of our runners: Me, Karsch, Panchal and Espinosa.
The achievements on this day did not go unnoticed by the cross country community. The Eastern Girl’s Cross Country team made a significant debut at #15 in the first South Jersey Track Coaches Association (SJTCA) Coaches Poll. This recognition set the stage for even greater upcoming accomplishments.
The SJTCA Open at Dream Park on October 7th brought a taste of familiarity, and consequently, another chance for our team to shine. This marked our first real meet at Dream Park, a course that the whole team had become accustomed to- thanks to the batch meets we’d attended in the earlier season.
We recorded three season-best performances on that day. Among these notable performances was the exceptional achievement of Albertson, clocking an impressive time of 19:49.59 and securing her 6th place in the Division 3 Varsity race.
The Olympic Conference Championship at Dream Park on October 18th proved to be a test of our team’s resilience. Despite difficult conditions with a bit of drizzle, our athletes persevered and demonstrated their determination.
This meet held special significance as it marked the last meet of the regular season. It determined who would move on to compete at the NJSIAA State Sectionals, adding an extra layer of intensity. This was also, excitingly, the first time that sophomore Eleni Moraitakis had the opportunity to compete.
In honor of the NJSIAA’s Officials Appreciation Week, we also took a moment to express our gratitude to the officials at the meet. We presented them with thank you cards as a token of our appreciation and respect for their contribution to the sport.
Many team members achieved season bests and personal records. Our team finished in 6th place overall in the Olympic Conference.
A standout performance once again came from Albertson, who finished 7th individually in a personal record time of 19:29.35. Her impressive run earned her 1st Team All Conference Honors, a well-deserved recognition.
The athletes who earned the privilege to advance to Sectionals were Albertson, Karcsh, Espinosa, Foster, Panchal, Regan Bewley, and I. We were ready to carry the team’s spirit into the postseason.
The NJSIAA State Sectionals at Dream Park on October 28th marked a crucial juncture in our season. As the last meet before the State Championships, Sectionals had the responsibility of determining the state qualifiers. The anticipation was visible as our team prepared to give it their all one last time.
We finished 10th as a team, with every runner delivering performances that came remarkably close to our season bests.
A highlight of the day came from Albertson, who finished 7th individually, securing her qualification for the State Group 4 Championship at Holmdel Park on November 4th.
Albertson has mixed feelings about States, being that it will be her first time racing at Holmdel, inarguably the toughest cross country course in New Jersey. “This season has been amazing. Everyone on the team has been so supportive and kind. I think I had a pretty decent season and my main goal is to break 19 minutes in the 5k.”
There is no doubt that the cross country team will be cheering for Theresa this weekend. We are all extremely proud of her and have high hopes, confident that she will end her season with a ‘bang’- whether the individual team members are with her physically or in spirit.
Our head coach, Michael Tangeman, had kind words to say about the team’s performance, “All things considered, I believe our squad performed admirably this season. We did not have many runners, nor many with varsity experience, so it was important for our athletes to be patient and gradually build up their training, both for performance reasons and to stay healthy.”
He expressed that the team lived up to their expectations, racing faster as the season progressed while simultaneously avoiding injuries. “This is in part due to the great leadership of our few upperclassmen, including our captain, Caroline Becker. The younger runners benefitted immensely from their guidance. We cannot thank them enough!”
