Carlmont’s varsity cross country team fell short during the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championship on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Crystal Springs Cross Country Course.

Varsity boys finished ninth, while girls placed third on the 2.95-mile stretch, a setback from their previous placing of second during the PAL Championship a week before. Boys finished with a team time of 1:28:00 and an average time of 18:28, while girls ended with a team time of 1:40:55 and an average of 20:07.

“We kept a good pace in the beginning, but the conditions were rough, and we were tired from the beginning,” said sophomore Gabriel Haller. 

The team had practiced throughout the season, and the upcoming race was the main goal for many of the runners. 

“We were all working up to CCS, so hopefully, some of us might go to state,” said sophomore Justin Dubbs.

However, in the wake of race anticipation, many problems arose, including sick players and injuries, plaguing both teams. Junior Sean Conley came down with a hip injury, who was the fastest runner for the Carlmont team in previous events. 

“The missing teammates demoralized us,” Dubbs said.

On top of the partial team, the conditions were also sub-normal, with fall weather seemingly dissipating on the sunny, dust-filled track. The hilly, inclined terrain made for a challenging environment for both teams. 

“The track was hot and tired us before we started warming up. The soil was beaten up, and there were lots of uneven surfaces,” Haller said.

In light, some Carlmont junior varsity teammates came to cheer on the Scots, helping to fill the void left by the missing players. 

“It’s good to support my team,” said freshman Wyatt Daru. 

Daru had participated in his final event a week before as a JV runner and described both teams as being in an unusual emotional state before both races.

Unlike the boys, the girls varsity team was better supported since only a few runners were missing, leading to stronger team morale. 

“The girls team seemed more collected,” said spectator Arthur Bernardi. 

With a push of team morale and a better atmosphere, half an hour after the boys race, Daniela Cuadros finished ninth, winning her a spot in the CIF State Championship next week.

The Scots may have fallen short in their final event. Still, anticipation builds for the future season, where both teams can continue improving and strive towards a better season finish.

“We’ll be better next season,” Haller said.