The Rosemary Clarke Middle School (RCMS) Sharks Cross Country team delivered impressive performances at the CSN Invitational, held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Floyd Lamb Park. Competing against strong fields of over 100 runners in both the boys’ and girls’ races, the Sharks showcased their resilience and continued improvement throughout the season.
Rylan Bliss once again demonstrated her excellence by finishing 2nd among 108 female runners, securing another medal for the season. Bliss continues to shave seconds off her average mile time, knocking another second off in this race. Head Coach Ben Veloz praised her consistency, saying, “Rylan is always pushing herself, and it shows with each race. She’s having an incredible season.”
Sixth-grader Sierra Eichner, participating in her first race of the season after overcoming injuries, placed a respectable 25th, followed by 8th grader Addy Murphy. Coach Veloz is optimistic about their potential for the final race of the season, commenting, “We look forward to seeing Sierra and Addy work together to finish strong.”
Another standout performance came from Daniela Abarca-Franco, who delivered her best race of the season by finishing 43rd and knocking an impressive 51 seconds off her average mile time. Victoria Thompson also made her season debut, contributing to the team alongside Brandie Blumer and Lynette Doty.
On the boys’ side, Zander Thompson earned a medal by finishing in 8th place among 106 runners. Like Bliss, he improved his average mile time by one second. Coach Veloz was impressed with his determination, stating, “Zander continues to prove himself as one of our strongest runners. His focus and hard work are paying off.”
Nico Money followed with a strong 15th place finish, while William Cassell showed significant improvement by finishing in 63rd place, knocking 48 seconds off his average mile time for the season. Mozes Quinonez and Jaxson Casteneda also participated, contributing to the team’s effort.
As the season nears its conclusion, the Sharks are preparing for their final and longest race at Foothills High School. Coach Veloz remains optimistic about his team’s continued growth, saying, “This race was another step forward for our runners. We’re excited to see what they can do at the final race of the season.”
With medals and personal bests piling up, the RCMS Sharks Cross Country team is set to finish the season on a high note.
