As the 2023 Cross Country (XC) season comes to a close. Let’s acknowledge the runners who endured the heat and hills that Pierce College offers. It was a long rough season for the Pumas but they were able to persevere.

The season kicked off with high expectations, as returning runners and up-and-coming talents prepared to battle it out on the course. The competition was fierce, with each team and individual athlete vying for the top spot.

A standout moment would be both boys and girls XC teams making it to League Finals where they both placed 3rd in their division. Some individual shoutouts would be to Jesus Artega who had the fastest time of 18:36 out of the boy’s team and Hannah Carlson who had the fastest time of 23:00 for the girl’s team. A runner-up would be Daniela Velasquez who had a time of 23:04 and showed this amazing performance despite joining XC later in the season.

Well as a congrats to Di Angelo Castillo, Nathen Hernandez, Jeremiah Nettles, Martin Carpenter, Daniela Velazquez, Susan Antonio, Luciana Esteva, and Divya Kishore who stayed consistent all the way to the end of the season and showed their best performance out on the course.

Overall, the XC 2023 season was a thrilling ride from start to finish. From the intense team rivalries to the individual talent on display, this season had it all. As the dust settles and all the runners celebrate their victories, the XC community eagerly looks forward to the next season, knowing that it will be just as exciting and full of surprises.