Cross country splashes for success

The Castro Valley Trojans encountered rain and mud at the NCS cross country championships on Nov. 22. Although the the course was trampled and muddy by the time CVHS lined up to race, the runners still had their speed and determination.

The first race for the Trojans was for the varsity boys. Lead runner Carter Mackey ran a time of 16:25 in fifth place behind De La Salle and Amador Valley.

Even though the team landed in 13th place with a score of 330, Mackey qualified for the state championship on Nov. 29.

The racers did not enjoy running on a squishy, dirty course. Every runner was determined though, and finished the race covered in mud.

“Imagine riding in a boat with no motor and trying to go upstream,” said Peter Normann, who placed second for CVHS, explaining the difficulty of running on a wet course.

The girls varsity team placed better than the boys, ending up in sixth place with a score of 155, only two points more than Dougherty Valley.

Emma Armstrong, the lead runner, came in eighth with a time of 19:23, and Sarah Fung came in 24th at 20:33.

“I feel like I just got drowned in mud,” said freshman runner Hannah Meskienyar, the third CVHS runner to cross the finish line.

Armstrong also qualified for state championships, and was very pleased that all of her dedication paid off.

Coach Bill Armstrong was very proud of Armstrong’s success of making it to state.

“She wanted it so bad and worked so hard all summer,” he said.

Mackey and Armstrong represented Castro Valley in the CIF State Championships in Fresno on Nov. 29. Mackey finished 89th with a time of 16:32 and Armstrong finished 110th at 19:55.