Setting out to defend their Omega League championship from last year, both the OVS boys and girls cross country teams took the top spots in their opening league races at the Upper Campus on Wednesday.
On a chilly afternoon with clouds overhead, the OVS runners took part in their first race of the season on their home Pi course.
The runners started strong, with lots of yelling and screaming from parents and students alike.
After only a short 19 minutes and 25 seconds, the first-place runner, Eli Roston from Ojai Valley School, came blazing through the finish line, looking just as strong as when he left.
“I just did want that, the determination to win, and that’s what kept me going,” Eli said.
Shortly after second place, a runner from Newbury Park came through the line. Then, as the top 10 come through, there seemed to be a common theme of the color green, represented by Ojai Valley School.
Out of the top 10 male runners, 7 were on the OVS team, and on the women’s side, 5 out of the 10 top runners were from Ojai Valley School.
On the girls side, senior Anna English led the OVS squad with a second place finish in her first-ever cross country race. OVS junior Adele Erk and senior Karin Hahn took third and fourth place respectively.
The season has just begun, but it is clear to see that OVS is at the top of their league. However, it will be more interesting to see how the team continues to push their times and bodies to the limit.
The runners travel to Griffith Park next Wednesday for Omega League meet No. 2.
