Cross Country: Despite team not qualifying Nag moves onto state

Junior Maya Nag waited anxiously on Nov. 11, hoping the rain would cease so she could run CCS the following day when her patience was rewarded as she qualified herself for the state meet.

“I was really hoping that it would stop raining,” junior Maya Nag said. “I skipped my last band competition of the year for CCS, so I really wanted it to pay off.”

It stopped raining on the morning of Nov. 12 just in time for the girls to run CCS on the notorious 2.95 hilly race at Crystal Springs.

“The rain actually helped us,” Nag said. “The course was not too muddy and there wasn’t dust flying around everywhere. It was perfect running conditions.”

While the team didn’t qualify Nag qualified to run at states individually. Nag had to qualify for state based upon her individual times. The CCS officials allow only a certain number of individual runners to qualify for state Nag was the first to be selected from the individual runners to move onto state.

“I’m really happy but I’m going to have to make sure to train properly,” Nag said. “I’m glad skipping band paid off in the end.”

In addition to Nag, the seven member team consisted of seniors Emily Williams and Kristine Johnston; juniors Courtney Schlossareck, and Maggy Liu; and freshmen Christina Schlossareck and Carolyn Qi. While the team was originally seeded sixth, they ended up finishing fourth, one place short of qualifying for the state race.

“We were so close,” Schlossareck said. “It would have been great if we could have qualified as a team.”

Despite its disappointment over failing to advance to state, the team anticipates doing even better next year.

“We now know what it feels like to run at CCS,” Schlossareck said. “I feel like this will only drive us even harder next year to make it to the state race.”

Nag ran at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 26 with the support of her team behind her.
“I’m excited for Nag,” said Schlossareck. “She trains really hard and deserves to go to state. I know she will do well.”