Although this year was one of the best underclassmen turnouts in
recent history during the first week of cross country practice at
San Benito High School, coach Jess Morales is still looking for
more athletes to come out.
Although this year was one of the best underclassmen turnouts in recent history during the first week of cross country practice at San Benito High School, coach Jess Morales is still looking for more athletes to come out.
The team will be trying to defend its Central Coast Section championship when the season begins. About 35 runners showed up for the first week this week, 14 of which were freshmen.
“It is refreshing to see the young runners,” Morales said. “We welcome anyone to come out. If the sport doesn’t work out, we will be happy to accept you. If you get cut from your fall sport, come out and try out. A lot of people don’t know about it, but anyone can come out who wants to be a part of a successful program.”
Freshmen twins Kristina and Jessica Albright are two of the runners trying out for the team.
“All the freshman girls are looking really good,” Morales said. “Hopefully they can step up and take the spots off the seniors who left.”
Several former Baler runners attended practice this week, at Morales’ request, to share with the younger runners the tradition that the program has had and to share their knowledge of the sport.
If the team has enough dedicated people who come out this year, Morales said the team has a good chance to make another run at a title. But he said he knows it will be a lot of work.
“We’re going to take one day at a time,” Morales said. “If we have a good turnout, we could repeat it. Cross country is weird because sometimes it can take you a good year to figure out. We have a lot kids who have been working hard and have good attitudes.”
