With every stride, every sprint and every finish-line push, Poly’s cross country team made this season one to remember. The Panthers recently closed off their exciting run, marked by the girls placing second and the boys placing third at the Prep League finals on Saturday, Nov. 1. While the boys ended their season at league finals, the girls’ season extended beyond the Prep League finals and into the CIF prelims on Friday, Nov. 14. The typically challenging course at Mt. San Antonio College was changed to accommodate the rainy conditions, allowing for faster times despite the downpour. Before the race, junior runner Elizabeth Rweyemamu said, “We are all so motivated for CIF. Our goal is to make it to Mt. SAC in the finals and hopefully win it. Even if we don’t win, then we will go out knowing that we all had an amazing season.” Their postseason run included strong performances across the team, highlighted by sophomore Kylie Cameron, who placed sixth in heat four with a time of 19:49.20 and qualified to advance to CIF Southern Section finals as an individual. A spirit of unity and perseverance defined the girls’ journey, especially as competition intensified. Junior Eden Stern added, “I would say this has been an amazing season, and especially once the girls got to the postseason, the team got really close. Our last race was amazing, and I think all seven girls got personal records even though it was pouring rain.” Meanwhile, the boys team narrowly missed advancing to CIF after a hard-fought race. Senior co-captain Matteo Mazzie believes that, despite not reaching the finish that they hoped for, the team left off on a high note. He explained, “We had a great season. It felt like everyone put forth their best effort and grew a lot. I think I’m happy with where I left the team, and I’m excited to hear what the team does next season.” Junior Caiden Kennedy said, “This season, the boys team worked really hard and everyone pushed each other to be their best during workouts and races. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to advance to CIF prelims, but our hard work during the season paid off with everyone running impressive times at league finals.” During the final stages of a race, every challenge is amplified due to mental and physical fatigue. That extra rep or extra hard push during a workout, according to Kennedy, helped propel the runners past the finish line, producing great results every week this season. The effort the Panthers invested day after day has created a foundation of trust and mental resilience that will serve them long after this year’s races finish. Reflecting on their season, the team looks forward to cheering Cameron on at the next round of CIF finals on Saturday, Nov. 22.