With a dominating performance in their first meet of the season, the junior girls on the varsity cross country team have demonstrated that they are in it for the long run to the state championship.

Recording their fastest times to date, with the quickest time from Rylie Howey finishing at 20:47.00 in the 5000M, the members of the cross country team crossed the line with a combined score of 9, beating their closest opponent by 25 points, and easily clenching first place in the Chandler Invite.

Junior Rylie Howey said, “This is the second year in a row that we’ve won and we are just a lot faster than our team’s ever been.”

Having this much success early in the season is the result of grueling after school practices in the infamously hot Arizona weather. Even though the scores seem perfect, behind the scenes the heat is taking a toll on the members.

“The heat is rough but we have been practicing in the heat to hopefully adjust to it, and race better,” Howey said.

If their first meet is any indication of how their season will progress, they have set themselves up for success with unwavering dedication to their sport.  

Being such a closely-knit team also attributes to the team’s achievements.

“I think we work well as team because we are really close, it’s kind of like a family,” Junior Braylan Horned said.

Bonding on and off the field is what puts Perry’s cross country team a step ahead of all their competition.  

The ability to win state will take each member of the team competing at their personal best.  Having teammates that truly care about each other allows them to push one another past their limits. The goals they have set mean working hard and not being satisfied with their current times.

“Everyone’s just going to keep on getting better and improve their times,” Junior Paige Ellsworth said.

Perry’s cross country team has an abundance of potential to grow on the road to state. The Junior girls have the ability to carry the team and provide the foundation needed for a very productive year.