The SJHHS boys’ cross country team fought through intense heat and tough racing conditions to claim a spot on the podium during the Seaview league finals. The team victory earned each athlete the chance to compete individually in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) tournament.
“We got second place behind Aliso. It was an interesting race. It was really hot, so it was kind of weird for our team, but we did it,” said Ryder Whitcomb (10).
Whitcomb entered high school as a freshman on varsity during the 2024-25 season. He continues to dominate the track as a sophomore, claiming fourth among the top ten athletes in the league—the highest ranking of any SJHHS athlete.
Quinn Calder (10) obtained seventh place, setting a time of 15:42.1 during the 3-mile race. His teammates earned similar times, qualifying the team for CIF finals.
“It’s going to be very difficult to qualify for state. However, I’m optimistic. I think that our team can do it,” said Calder.
Cross country is a fast-paced sport established on intense competition, but the SJHHS boys have built a positive team environment. To offset tough days of training that include long runs and unpredictable weather, the boys make time for group meals to maintain tight bonds.
“My favorite memory is definitely going out to eat breakfast after a long run over the summer. We went to get donuts and Coach bought them for our whole team, so that was definitely a great team bonding experience,” said Calder.
Despite the recent storm this past weekend, CIF prelims proceeded to move forward in the rain. As a rain or shine sport, the uncertain conditions display the extreme dedication of these athletes.
“It was pouring, and it kind of built the competitive environment. We’re all lined up and everyone’s super excited…we were out there to have fun and compete, and that’s what we did,” said Ryan Wersching (11).
The SJHHS team previously qualified for CIF finals during the 2024-25 season, raising the stakes for this year’s meet.
“I hope we make it farther than we did last year. It’s looking very promising, but we’ll see with this rain. It’s going to get interesting,” said Whitcomb.
