Cross Country

Jessica Zhou Photographer Sarena Kabir News Editor

Jace Aschbrenner Jace Aschbrenner, senior, has gotten into track through his family. “My grandpa ran track and cross country and my dad ran track and cross country, and so I decided to get into and I really stayed with it because of all the people I got to run with,” Aschbrenner said. With a time of 4:20 for the mile, and a 14:04 for the 3 mile, Aschbrenner is ranked 22 in the nation. “But I mean, most people call us crazy but it's what we gotta do to be good at our sport,” Aschbrenner said.

With the boys varsity team being ranked first, and the girls team ranked 22 in the nation, NPHS is dominating the cross country playing field.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, the Panther cross country teams raced in the annual Clovis Invitational. The boys' team won second overall, with Nico Young, senior, taking first place. The girls' team took fourth place.

Archana Mohandas Archana Mohandas, senior, has led the Marmonte league in the three mile for the last two years. “I started running Cross Country in 8th grade just because I thought I would enjoy it but after my first season, I fell in love with the sport. I decided to continue in high school and over the past four years, it has become a very important part of my life,” Mohandas said.

Gretchen Slattum Nico Young Fiona Hawkins

Gretchen Slattum, senior, Nico Young, senior, and Fiona Hawkins, junior, run together at practice as they prepare for their next meet. All three have been running from a very young age, knowing they wanted to join the high school cross country team. Although the boys’ and girls’ teams run separately, they have created a strong team community, which Hawkins credits in part to their coach, Sean Brosnan. “He has created a great culture in the program, and everyone knows that they are expected to work hard. My teammates are also a big motivation because they all put in a lot of hard work and are constantly pushing me in practice,” Hawkins said.

Colin Sahlman

Last year, the Newbury Park Cross Country Team was able to reach nationals. For Colin Sahlman, sophomore, it had been his first time attending. “My best experience was last year at nationals and it was a really cool experience be there in front of a bunch of amazing runners and to be in that race was a huge deal and it was really awesome,” Sahlman said. He ran a 4:16 as a freshman, and hopes to improve on that this year. “I hope this year to lower it to a 4:07, (with) just more speed work,” Sahlman said.