The boys cross country team completed the three-peat as they won this year’s fall championship. They finished first overall on the season, going undefeated at 6-0. The championship run was held at Shawan Downs. Senior Evan DeVoe finished second overall for the Patriots. JC runners also got third, fourth, and fifth.

This race was the most important for senior Will Root because it was what they worked for all season.

Will said he told his team, “This is what we have been working for. I believe in you guys to do your best and get your best times” because there were a lot of nerves.

When arriving at the race Will said, “I kept thinking about how I really didn’t want to lose, and that’s what kept me going throughout the race.”

Preparing for a race this big took a lot of preparation. Evan said that their team “tapered” their runs, meaning they lowered their intensity so they would have enough energy leading up to race day. However, it was also important that they ate well.

Will said then he encouraged his team to eat healthier and get a lot of rest in those last couple of days before the race.

Evan said leading up to the race there were a lot of nerves and anxiety — not just because the team wanted to win but also wanted to get their best times this season.

After the race, Evan said, “Everyone was satisfied with their runs and performances, and the vibes were super upbeat and happy.”

When running, the team likes to stay together to push each other when racing. Coach Michael Monaghan said they won the race by a lot more than he expected. “We were well positioned during the race, so it made the win easy.”