The Lick-Wilmerding cross country program made history at the Division V CIF State Championships on Saturday, November 24, in Woodward Park in Fresno. The women’s team became the only team in Lick history — in any sport — to win a state championship. The men’s team also medaled, placing second in the division.
Podium performances weren’t the only precedents broken this season: after the North Coast Section (NCS) regional meet was canceled due to poor air quality from the Camp Fire, decisions of state meet qualification were left up to an appointed committee. The committee ranked NCS teams using the results from league championships — like from the Bay County League which the Lick women’s and men’s teams both won — to determine the seven men’s and six women’s teams in Division V that would qualify for the state championship. Both the men’s and women’s qualified. The teams were lead by head coach Jeff Gardner, Cyntia Salazar, Aaron Lim, Eve Schaeffer, and Joe Fleming.
The women’s race, a 5,000 meter battle against staunch competition like St. Margaret’s Episcopal School and 2017 state champions Flintridge Preparatory School, was anything but predetermined. After trailing in the first mile, Lick pulled into first place during the second mile and held their position to win by a margin of 6 points.
In 2017, the women’s team barely defeated St. Margaret’s to finish third in the state. The race was remarkably tight, left up to each team’s tie-breaking sixth runner to determine the victor. With Jeannie Moreno ‘20 placing ahead of St. Margaret’s sixth, the final score was barely sufficient for Lick’s triumph, fueling St. Margaret’s desire to defeat LWHS this year. In cross-country, each school’s top five runners score points corresponding to the position in which they finish the race. (For example, the first-place finisher would score one point for their team.) The team with the fewest total points wins. In the case of a tie like last year, the position of the sixth runner determines who wins the race.
The women’s cross country team has grown to be incredibly close this season, literally. Their strong chemistry enables them to use a pack strategy, running side-by-side for the entire race. Alison Savage Brooks ‘19 describes, “The pack was strong to begin with. When I saw how strong our pack was with the addition of new freshmen this year, I knew we had a great chance at states.” St. Margaret’s fastest runners seemd to start their race with a much faster pace than their teammates could handle, as some of their runners slowed down throughout the race. Staying in the pack not only led to victory but brought runners together emotionally. “The pack gave our team a chance to grow closer like never before,” Savage Brooks recounted. “During our state’s race, a freshman who usually stays quiet, began to cheer me on in the pack and others who were struggling and I was so proud and happy to see the team we had created from the start of the season.”
The men’s team, in a year that observers predicted would be a rebuilding year with the loss of five key members from the class of 2018, turned in a laudable performance as well.
Led by Nick Harris ‘19 and Alex Mader ‘22, the men’s cross country team kicked into gear the final mile to inch ahead of Woodcrest Christian to clinch second place. John Peabody ‘20, a member of the men’s team, pushed through shin-splints to complete the race. Unfortunately, Peabody ended up with a stress-fracture in his ankle, but his peristence scored the team valuable points. He felt that “it was worth it as the team was able to be on the podium.” Eddie Dilworth ‘19 also pushed past an injury from earlier in the season.
Peabody addressed comradery during the race: “if one runner on the team sees a fellow teammate getting tired and slowing down, a supportive teammate is always nearby to spur them on with a few words of encouragement, whether it be a pat on the back or a quick ‘it’s go time.’” Savage Brooks’ trademark move to support her teammates is “extending a hand for [her] teammates to reach and catch.” This team connection is coveted; despite overwhelming pride in his team, Peabody expressed “envy” for the ability of the women’s team to stay together as a pack throughout the race, allowing their first five runners to place a whole minute better than St. Margaret’s.
Although the cross country season has come to a close, the runners are working hard in their time off to prepare for another potentially record-breaking season this spring for track and field. Establishing themselves as the Division V team to beat, they will work hard to defend their title and grow further as a team.
