Yesterday at three o’clock, Jesuit’s Cross Country team raced in the Metro League Championships at the THPRD in Beaverton. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams hoped to give this districts meet everything they had in order to place in the top 2 and advance to state— and they succeeded. Both Men’s and Women’s cross country came home as Metro League champions.
Consistency and teamwork has been the key to their success this season so far.
Jackson Welsh ‘26 has worked hard alongside his teammates, and learned how they can help each other reach their goals.
“Team bonding has been a great way for us to learn about each other as both a person and an athlete. With a new team this year, that has included going to dinner and the summer we would go to the river. During practice we have been growing together— pushing each other each day to be better,” Welsh said.
He acknowledges everyone who has kept him motivated this season, especially Kellen Williams ‘26 who Welsh has been running with “every day since mid-July.”
Maura O’Scannlain ‘25 has also been inspired by her teammates, especially girls who are new to the team or persevering through hardship.
“Ellie , Anya, and Georgia, they’ve just been working really hard together, and they’ve all been improving together. Emma, because she’s been dealing with some injuries, but she keeps showing up every day and running through it, it’s really inspiring,” O’Scannlain said.
The team has been preparing by getting good sleep, doing core and strength work, and pushing each other in consistent workouts. Through competing at districts yesterday, the teams’ aims were to gain confidence for their ultimate goals of winning back the state title and attending the regional, as well as national, meets.
For senior Maura O’Scannlain, preparing for districts and beyond has looked like simulating what the races are going to be like, practicing a plan, and just getting as much experience as possible.
Looking forward to competing at State, Saturday November 9, O’Scannlain hopes “for everyone to have their best race and be proud of their hard work.”
