Ready? Set! *Bang*!

The McClatchy Lions XC team set off on Thursday all the way to Irvine to race at the big Woodbridge Classic!

The runners went in with their heads held high, tightly laced running shoes, and a passion to win. And they did just that! Nineteen of the twenty-two racers from McClatchy set new personal records, along with several of the racers receiving medals for placing in the top 50 to finish the race. I had an opportunity to speak with two of the many amazing racers who ran at the meet.

Colette Combrink is a senior at McClatchy and has been running cross country for all four years! I asked Colette several questions during our interview but here are the most notable ones! 

“How did you feel leading up to the race?

“I was really nervous because it’s a really big meet, a ton of teams were there, and they’re really fast. But I was also super excited because I’ve run this meet before and I remember it being really fast and really fun.”

“That sounds really fun but quite challenging. Did you face any challenges during the race?”

“Yeah, I have been injured leading up to the race and hadn’t been practicing as much as I would have preferred to. So I was a little worried that my injury was going to start  hurting really bad during the race and I also just got out running really fast and struggled to keep that pace up, but I pushed through and made it to the finish!”

“Agh being injured sucks and I applaud your strength to keep running. Thank you so much for your time and stay hydrated!”

“Of course!”

Sam Rounds is a junior at McClatchy and has been running cross country since freshman year. He’s on the Ultraviolets, which is the second-fastest a person can run. He also placed in the top 50 at the race. 

“So Sam, how did you feel leading up to the race?”

“I was a little bit nervous the day before, but on the drive there as we got closer the more nervous I became. 

“So what did you do to calm your nerves?”

“I tried to sleep to keep my energy levels low so I didn’t over-exhaust myself.”

“I bet the anticipation leading up to the actual race was thrilling!”

“Yeah, when we started to warm up before the race I got more excited!”

“How did you feel after you received your medal?”

“It felt great, but I know I could have worked harder for it. I was happy to receive it though.”

“Well, that’s still so good. Thank you for your time Sam and keep working hard!”

The Lions ran their hearts out and gave it their all. Many of them felt they could have done so much better than they already did and we should look forward to seeing how great they do at the next meet! Stay Lion strong!