Veteran leadership, outstanding coaching, and new promising runners highlight trademark year
By: Noah Castillo
The Marshall Eagles’ Cross Country team has grown and striven towards success this year, setting new records, making it perhaps the best team in Marshall history.
Boys varsity has reached the CIF Finals on Saturday.
The season started on Aug.8 at the Cool Breeze Invitational in the Pomona Fairplex, where 13 Marshall runners set personal records (PR).
On Oct. 8, at their second Mission Valley League meet at Bonelli Park, senior Nate Nicoletti broke his personal record and set a new all-time school record of 15:56. He beat a previous time that he set.
“Breaking the school record that I set last year felt great, but in the long term process I am trying to push myself to benefit our team as best as possible. Being the lead runner is a major responsibility that I try to take into consideration each and every race to push myself beyond limits I didn’t know I had. So yes, I feel outstanding to look back and think that I have our school’s record, but I would be happy if Finn or Garrett had an outstanding race at league finals or CIF and crushed my record, as I am all in for our team,” Nicoletti said.
On that same day, the boys varsity team tied for first place. Junior Adam Schneider, with a time of 17:19, came in before Arroyo’s runners, granting the Eagles first place.
The boys varsity team placed 3rd at the Mt. Sac Invitational on Oct. 24. Nicoletti and sophomore Alek Boschetti both medaled: Nicoletti with a time of 17:00 and Boschetti with 17:07.
The Mission Valley League Finals at Bonelli Park on Nov. 5 saw the Varsity Boys place second in league, right behind Arroyo. Five out of the seven boys set new personal records, and six of them ran sub-17 minute times. Placing second allowed them to make it into CIF.
The girls’ varsity team had one person qualify, junior Maria McDonald, as an individual in seventh place at League Finals. She set a new personal record of 20:21, making her ranked third in Marshall’s all-time rankings for varsity girls’ cross country. Additionally, five of the other girls varsity runners set PRs at league finals.
“I really wouldn’t be where I am as a runner and also as a person without my coaches and my team, and for all of their overwhelming support I feel so happy. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be an example for the girls team, and I know that in the future, many bright things will come our way,” McDonald said after qualifying for prelims.
“Maria was able to do something very special this season. Her determination and self belief have helped her turn into the runner I hoped she would be. At the beginning of the season, we hoped she would be able to reach CIF prelims. So to see her go out and achieve her goals is incredibly rewarding,” coach Eric Hultquist said.
Not only did Nicoletti and McDonald set records for the school, but freshman Beckett Sparks did as well. At 16:38, he holds the fastest three-mile time for a freshman in Marshall history.
“I feel great about being the number one freshman in cross country. I think that if I try my hardest and with the encouragement of my coaches I should be able to buckle down some more records,” Sparks said.
“Our boys varsity team has already had a historic cross country season for Marshall. Currently we are ranked No. 10 in the Southern Section,” Hultquist said.