The Branson cross-country team has hit the ground running this season, kicking off their MCAL season with the Lowell Invitation and a slew of tri-league meets. The girls team took first place in their first tri-team meet and took first place at the Lowell Invitation in September.
“[At the] first tri-league or tri-team meet — [and] our team is bigger than it ever has been, but still it was much smaller than MC, and about the same as Terra Linda — it was like Audrey in the front, way in the front, then one MC girl, then like six Branson girls all running in a pack for that first mile. We passed some MC boys and they were like, ‘Oh crap!’ Immediately, it was very clear Branson was going to win,” said team co-captain Imogen Brown ‘25.
The boys cross-country team also beat Terra Linda on what was a fairly challenging course.
“The course was flat until you got halfway and then there was a massive hill, which I slipped and fell at the bottom of,” co-captain Jasper James ‘25 said. “I would say it was a moderate course, except for that one difficult part. I would rather have a whole course of rolling hills than have that same elevation gain in one hill.”
But the Bulls’ early success is by no means limited to the MCAL league. At the Lowell Invitation, the girls took first place for the first time in school history out of a total of 26 schools. Audrey Spaly ‘25 placed fifth for the girls.
“We were just happy that everybody had a good race and we were happy to be there together,” said Brown. As we were coming back from our cool-down, we passed the boys team and they were like, ‘You guys won,’ and we were like, ‘What?!’ It didn’t compute in my brain … That never, ever happens — winning a tri-team meet, let alone an Invitational with 26 other teams, which are all really strong. It was crazy, unbelievable,” said Brown.
For the boys, James ran himself to sixth place in a packed field.
“I went out fast, and set my sights on the back of the front pack. We went out in a sub-five minute pace, and it was all about holding on from then,” James said.
However, cross-country’s success is by no means a coincidence.
“[We have] very good team spirit and everyone cheers everyone on. [We’re] always cheer[ing] super loud when people are going by and we always make sure to congratulate everyone after their races … We have team speeches before,” said James.
James said that the team spirit is further bolstered by the new ninth-graders on the team.
“[There is] a lot more [ninth-grade] retention this year. A lot more retention in general, aside from injuries. The boys team is significantly better than last year, which is a very good sign. And there is a lot more hope for the season than there have been in previous years,” he added.
As the team remains spirited and passionate for the season, the boys team sets lofty goals for the season.
“Hopefully top three in MCALs, but maybe top four or top five would also be nice,” James said. Brown said she wants the girls to get top three in MCAL.
That said, the cross-country team strives to not only win, but also to create a sense of community within the team.
“My goal for the season is team culture, making this team not just a safe place but one of the best parts of people’s days,” Brown said. “As a freshman, I remember cross-country was where I got to talk to cool upperclassmen and run my heart out. I want to make sure it feels like the most fun it can be. Also, doing some outside-of-school events like team dinners and movie nights, and showing up to the volleyball game as a team — making it a real community.”
The Bulls cross-country seems to run and train with spirit and success on and off the trail. When asked if he had any final thoughts James exclaimed, “Go Bulls!”
