The high school teams line up at the start while the crowd cheers, everyone eagerly waiting for the race to start. Hundreds of runners blast off with the sound of the gun, ready to face this year’s course at the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSTA) Cross-Country Championships, held in Canterbury, Connecticut, the weekend of Nov. 9. The race showcased the skill, endurance, and sportsmanship of athletes from all across New England, and the Montrose team left with another first-place plaque.
The Montrose varsity team featured seven runners: Maddy Kerr ‘25, Eva Derendorf ‘25, Kate Ladino ‘25, Catalina Perdomo ‘27, Ali Hamel ‘27, Kelly Ladino ‘27, and I. The entire cross-country team worked extremely hard this season. The meets consisted of many difficult courses, but we always put in our best effort, having especially strong meets at Portsmouth Abbey as well as Nobles and Greenough. Towards the end of the season, it was clear that our team was at its strongest yet, with our varsity and JV teams featuring a wide range of talent. We were ready to take on the challenge at the championship.
This year’s course featured a challenging combination of forest trails, grass fields, and hills. Montrose had run this race two years ago, and everyone on the team was eager to challenge themselves to beat their time from before. Race day’s weather was very crisp, with temperatures in the low 50s, ideal for cross-country runners. Spectators were lined up, already cheering and ringing their bells.
The race was extremely competitive and pushed each runner to their limits. At around mile two, every athlete began to feel tired but held onto their strength in these tough moments. This is where the hills began, and each runner needed their complete focus. The hills were long and gradual, but Catalina and I charged to the top, encouraging each other and pumping our arms until we reached the peak. Catalina described the race by saying, “I was aiming to get top 20, and I strived to run with my teammates through the race and to push each other, just as Coach said.” Prior to the race, Coach Kerr emphasized the importance of running with a teammate, to encourage each other and push one another to new limits. “I wanted to try my hardest because we have been training for this all season,” Catalina remarked. She gave the race her all, along with everyone on the team, and the results are a reflection of our hard work.
The race resulted in an awesome team win! In cross country, the places of the top 5 runners are added together, so the lowest score wins. Third place was Wheeler School with a score of 140, second place was Rivers School with a score of 118, and first place was Montrose with a score of 64! Three runners were in the top 10 out of 143 runners, and five runners were featured in the top 25. This was huge, showing how strong our team is as a whole. My personal goal was to be in the top 20, and while I fell just short of it with a 22nd-place finish, I gave the race my best effort and I am proud of the team’s results.
This year’s championship was not just about running. It also served as a reminder of Montrose’s strong, tight-knit community. Families traveled from across New England to support our team, creating a powerful sense of school spirit. Our incredible coaches made this event possible with their management of all the coordination and logistics of the trip. The 2024 Cross-Country Championship showed the passion and perseverance of everyone on our team!
By Ava Menasha ‘26, Contributing Writer
