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10/22/2024 01:07 PMThe North Branford cross country program may sport one of the smaller rosters in the Shoreline Conference this season. Yet they are more than making up for it with a crop of competitors that have each made steady progress from the opening steps taken this fall.
This season, the North Branford boys’ and girls’ cross country teams field a very small program with only seven athletes combined between the two clubs. Yet it is a sensational seven in the eyes of Head Coach Megan Zander. She explains the lack of numbers actually fields a more friendly and familial feel–fostering a group that truly motivates and challenges each other.
“Our team is small this year, but they are a super close-knit group who have worked through various injuries and struggles to have a good season,” said Zander. “We’re using this season to work on increasing our running endurance and incorporating new drills to prevent injuries. My hope is to build the team in numbers going forward while maintaining the close team culture that exists.”
The T-birds’ captain this year is junior Sophia Sorrell. Zander detailed that Sorrell is currently sustaining an injury. Yet it has not dulled her dedication to the program and her course colleagues by acting as an emotional and spiritual leader for North Branford.
“She’s dedicated to the sport and her academics. She works hard to lift everyone up and encourage them to run their best. She’s a friend on and off the course,” Zander said of Sorrell. “Sophia is currently dealing with a hamstring injury but is showing resilience in the face of injuries and working hard on her recovery.”
Junior Taylor Bliven is the lone male member of the boys’ squad. He ran a 24:56 at this year’s Wickham Invitational, which was an improvement over his last performance on that course.
“Taylor is performing remarkably well despite dealing with ongoing injuries,” said Zander. “He’s dedicated to the team and always willing to work to improve his time and form.”
Sophomore and newcomer Alexandra Sigal performed well in her first cross country meet of the season by posting a time of 30 minutes and 27 seconds at the Wickham Invitation.
“A member of last year’s indoor and outdoor track team who’s known for her short work, she’s really pushed herself to handle long distances this season,” said Zander. “It’s been great having her and her always positive attitude.”
Junior Emma Preiss currently leads the team in points and clocked in at 23:22 season-record time at the River Valley Invitational this season.
“Emma has a phenomenal work ethic; she never complains, puts in the work, and always gives her best,” said Zander. “I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do with the rest of the season.”
Elsewhere, sophomore Marina Dawson set a personal-best time of 24 minutes and 56 seconds during the River Valley invitationals earlier this season.
“Marina is great. She is quietly dedicated and puts in tremendous effort,” said Zander. “And she’s an absolute beast when it comes to core workouts.”
Regardless of each runner’s background, Zander explained that each of them is laser-focused and locked in on one of the core tenets of high school cross country, and that is individual growth and pushing towards personal goals.
“All of the team members demonstrate unwavering commitment and work diligently to push themselves and each other to improve,” said Zander. “With states next week to finish off our season, we’re hoping to make a few more fun memories as a team and bring home some personal records. I think we’re doing a great job on all fronts with junior Cass Navarrete running her first sub 30 and sophomore Skye Pancak showing fantastic effort with a nail-biter of a finish at the Sept. 24 Shoreline Conference meet at Cromwell High School.”
At the Shoreline Conference Championships on Oct. 17 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison, Bliven was 69th overall with a time of 21:20 for the boys’ race. On the girls’ side, Preiss came in 25th (21:19), Dowson finished 46th in a time of 22 minutes and 56 seconds, Sigal was 56th (25:28), Navarrete placed 63rd (27:48), and Pancak was 65th (27:56).
The Class SS State Championships will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Wickham Park. But beyond that conclusion to the season, Zander wants each and every person to enhance their athletic attributes and truly commit to the sport for the future because they genuinely love it.
“I feel that running is the hardest sport. It’s just as tough mentally as it is physically, and students don’t commit to the sport unless they love both it and the people they’re doing it with,” said Zander. “My goal this year was to work on increasing endurance, improving form, and having runners improve their personal records.”