Season wraps up as CCS nears

After going through a season of hard work and success, runners on the boys’ cross country team will see their season coming to an end soon. Looking back, senior co-captain Garrick Chan is pleased with the team’s achievements.

“We’re starting to race smarter,” said Chan. “We’re starting to have good tactics and we’re improving individually.”

Chan said the team has not only gotten faster but is noticeably stronger and more united during workouts.

“We are able to run as a group now during workouts,” said Chan. “In the past, it would be just me and Kyle and in a few minutes later everyone else. Now we’re all together.”

Coach Dan Ambrico saw other senior co-captain Kyle Fukui and Chan as influential figures throughout the season.

“Kyle and Garrick are the heart and soul of the team,” said Ambrico. “They set a strong example for our younger runners and set the bar high for hard work at practice.”

Ambrico described freshman twins Will and Sam Guy along with sophomore David Zarrin as the rising stars of the team throughout the season.

“Sam and Will have broken most of the freshman records at Saratoga this year,” said Ambrico. “David has a very promising future. I expect them to be the leaders of this team going forward.”

The team recently competed in its final race before CCS at the league championships at Crystal Springs in a 2.95 mile race on Nov 2. Top results came from Chan, who finished 10th, and Fukui who finished 19th, with times of 16:45 and 17:22, respectively. Chan also earned the De Anza League All League Honors award.

“I did better than I thought because of the competition,” said Chan. “I am happy with my time and I’m glad that I am finally a DAL All Leaguer. I have totally redeemed myself from last year’s race, where I did really badly.”

Although Chan did well, he said that the weather conditions affected many racers.

“The race was killer because of the heat and competition,” said Chan. “Many suffered heat exhaustion and the race had to be canceled after the varsity race.”

The varsity squad now heads to its CCS competition at Toro Park in Salinas, where it will tackle a 3-mile race on Nov. 13. However, due to a broken ankle injury from a slide tackle during a soccer game, Sam Guy will be unable to race.

“We’ll have to move on,” said Chan. “Now everyone will have to take their game to another level, a step higher.”

Although hampered by Sam Guy’s injury, the team still hopes that it will be able to place in the top 3 at CCS and make the state championships, which will take place on Nov. 27 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“I want the team to run all out on this because it’s now or never,” said Chan.