Tim Hunter has been coaching the San Ramon Cross Country team for the past 10 years in the fall season, which ends in December. He has 65 runners on his team this year.
The first five runners from a team are the scorers, generating points according to how they finish. The team with the lowest number of points wins. The varsity races are 3 miles or 5 kilometers, and the junior varsity run two miles.
“This year the boys team will be led by Brett Gunari and Mitch Lappin, who are both juniors,” said Hunter. “A big pack of boys follow these two, making for a good team. The girls are led by junior Alexis Nordine and seniors Katie Prucha and Janelle Jacobs.”
He said the competition for the boys team is keen with Livermore and Monte Vista. For the girls, it’s Amador Valley and Monte Vista. He noted that swift runners can be rewarded with college scholarships.
“The scholarships are available through the Track and Field program, and there are opportunities to earn scholarships at Division 1, 2 and 3 schools through cross country,” he said.
Like every other sport, practice is one of the keys to being a great runner, said Hunter.
“As a team, we meet six days a week and run. Advanced runners do four-10 miles, and beginners do from 20 minutes to four-six miles. Summer time is for the mileage, and in the fall we use a variety of methods to stress the different body systems needed to run for two or three miles,” Hunter said.
“If a person likes to compete and take a chance, that will make for a great runner. The other key element is that they have to be willing to prepare better than anyone else and that means doing a lot of hard work before the season begins. Put these two aspects together and that will be the formula to achieve huge success in this sport.”
Football
Monte Vista rolled to a 35-0 win over Antioch, led by junior running back Peter Geurts who ran 19 times for 168 yards. The Mustangs will play at home tonight against Tracy West.
San Ramon won its first game against Campolindo 35-21 as junior running back Roy Helu Jr. scored two touchdowns and ran 23 times for 172 yards. The Wolves will play at home tonight against Irvington.
