This article is part of a series focused on this year’s motto of Unum: Engage, which highlights how students engage as one in different groups across campus. 

Being ranked second almost all season, the Girls Cross Country team had an extremely successful season. The girls had some incredible achievements this year and, after placing second at CIF, the girls went on to State and took 4th place in Division 3.

From the beginning of summer, the girls have been training at up to 40 miles a week. Their training consists of 2+ workouts per week, a long run, and some easy 5-mile runs in between. Over the summer, the girls’ and boys’ teams went to Big Bear for a week and experienced high-altitude training while becoming closer friends and teammates. 

Kristen Bickler 27’ explains that “Big Bear was so much fun, and I really got to know my teammates better, build a deeper relationship with my friends, and also enjoy running more.” Team chemistry is extremely important for cross country, and the girls spend countless hours running together, so it’s important that they form strong bonds with each other. 

Head Coach Dan Geiger explains how “the off season training was crucial to the team’s success, both from a physical and mental standpoint.” Since the beginning of summer, the team’s training was geared toward CIF and State as they built up mileage throughout the season and tapered down in the weeks leading up to State.  

Before races, the girls gather in a circle and join in prayer, thanking God for the “opportunity to race with each other and for each other,” explains Hannah Sperling ’26. She goes on to explain how prayer is important because it centers the team and brings them together. 

Some outstanding accomplishments of the season were the girls placing second in the sweepstakes race at the prestigious Mt. Sac invitation, the biggest meet in the world. The girls also placed second in CIF where Jocelyn Gibson placed 3rd with a school record-breaking time of 17:47. The team went on to place 4th in the state competition, missing the podium by only 2 points. In addition, Jocelyn Gibson and Liesel Sellerberg earned 1st Team All-Western League honors as well as 1st Team CIF Division 3 honors. 

At the state meet Joycelyn placed 6th overall, followed by Liesel in 32nd and Callie Schulteis in 38th. Overall, the team was not at its peak, with some athletes being sick or injured, but the girls were still able to maintain high hopes and go into races with a positive mindset.