Running on Island Time
By Maya McComb, Sports Editor
To many, running multiple miles in extreme weather conditions sounds like a grueling task, but to the Moreau Catholic Cross Country Team, that’s just a normal afternoon practice. This September, the varsity cross-country athletes had the opportunity to compete in Hawaii at the Iolani XC Invitational!
The first MVAL league meet was September 3rd at Newark Memorial High School, but to prepare for the fall season, athletes have been training since mid-June in the hot summer heat. Led by Head Coach Enrique Henriquez and assistants Austin Reaker and Breanna Herrera, these athletes have been trained to perform well. In late July, returning and new cross-country athletes traveled to Santa Cruz for their annual running camp. Athletes demonstrated their speed and endurance by running through the woods. These practices may be intense and the miles long, but the community formed along the way is demonstrated through encouragement and support for each other.
To put this training to the test, the cross-country varsity team traveled to the Aloha State, Hawaii, to compete with multiple schools across the nation. The Iolani XC Invitational in September was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was the talk of the team for multiple months, motivating them to continue running through the hills of Hayward.
Head Coach Henriquez describes the preparation: “The summer was a critical point for them because we needed to be in shape for the event in September.” In addition to physical performance, he goes on to say “athletes in cross-country stick to a 3.0 regimen of GPA rather than the minimum of 2 or 2.5,” emphasizing not only the physical strength of the athletes, but also the school aspect of “student athlete.”
Senior Sadie Cotten describes the Iolani invitational experience as “An amazing opportunity to get to run in such a beautiful place. It was tough with the heat, but everyone ran amazing times, and it was such a great environment.”
Cotten has been running cross country all four years and describes her experience as “one of the most welcoming communities at Moreau. Everyone is always supportive and uplifting each other, and so many lifelong friends are made from the team.”
Cross Country at Moreau is a sport that requires both mental and physical strength, which the athletes continue to demonstrate day in and day out. Be sure to support your fellow runners throughout the 2025 Cross Country season.