Although running at six in the morning is no easy feat, the Diamond Bar High School cross country team is willing to do what it takes each day to prepare for the upcoming season.        

Along with morning workouts, the cross country team practiced during the summer in preparation for the upcoming meets. Coach Malinalli Cooke hosted summer camp for the team and incoming members to train.

According to senior captain Frederick Yang, the team would practice at school on Mondays and Wednesdays while running at different locations and trails on Fridays and Saturdays.

Yang said that team members have been focusing on building up their core muscles through circuit training through  push ups, sit ups and short distance runs.

Although losing last year’s seniors have impacted the team, Yang said that the younger players have stepped up to contribute.

“The loss of previous members definitely hurt the team, especially since some of [the team] just can’t make it for the morning schedule, but the new members, we know that they are all dedicated,” Yang said.

With the school’s recent switch from Palomares League to the Mt. Baldy League, Cooke said that the change has improved the team’s chances of moving forward within the league. In the first league match, the boys varsity team took first place with juniors Lukas Amare and George Rosales tying for first with a time of 16:24.1. Meanwhile, girls varsity sophomore Keili Ishitani placed third place as did the team.

“Our girl’s team looks really strong—comparable to the rest of the teams in the league. Our boys team has potential as well, so really our goals for this season are to try to get a CIF spot, and to CIF prelims,” Cooke said.

According to Cooke, the team will be led by seniors Yang, Thomas Ear and juniors Amare and Rosales. Also, sophomores Nathan Sin, Victoria Artale, Allison Ear, Ishitani and freshman Carissa Jeon are expected to continue to contribute to the team’s success.            

“I’m trying to make us more cohesive and trying to make us more of a team, cause I feel like that would cause us to focus on a team goal and for us to strive toward that goal together,” Cooke said.