On September 11, 2021, the Ukiah High Cross Country team competed in a meet held at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park known as the San Francisco Invitational. Before the race, UHS News spoke to members of the cross country team about the upcoming season.
12th Grader Kianna Ruffin is excited to be running once again because, “I feel like we have improved and it’s exciting to be back in a normal year.” She added she is “so glad sports are happening and I can’t wait to compete.”
“I ran over the summer with my team making sure I stay in shape and I am ready to get out there and give it my all,” Ruffin said.
Ruffin explains what she’s looking forward to this season, “I’m looking forward to improving this year and hopefully having a good season with everyone and making new PR’s”.
9th Grader Xavier Fierro described why he signed up for the cross country team: “ I had a personal connection with the coach. I already knew him and he suggested I join”.
“I am nervous and excited for my first meet and I don’t feel very prepared,” Fierro admitted.
Cross County Coach Chad Raugewitz spoke to his predictions of the season saying, “I am completely clueless. On the high end, we got a chance of winning the league in our division. This will of course happen if the kids progress, work hard, and stay healthy.”
Coach Raugewitz told us how he will approach coaching this season, “It is a long season, we just take it one week at a time, what it comes down to is the kids coming each week and working hard. I hope that at the end of the season everyone reaches their full potential”.
Raugewitz feels excited for the start of the season describing “This year feels like a very fresh start, it feels like a First-year for me because of last year’s situation.”
Results of the San Francisco Invitational indicate three Ukiah High lady runners and three gentlemen runners emerged as the team’s top competitors. The top three lady runners were 3) Amanda Mucho, 2) Kianna Ruffin, and 1) Kaylee Gaylord. The top three gentlemen runners were 3) Shane Stearns, 2)Andrew Tarin, and 1) Nathan Gibson.
Lilly Losak, a junior at Ukiah High school is a three-sport athlete who dreams to continue her basketball career after high school. She is passionate about climate change, writing, and nature. Some of the writings she enjoys are short stories and occasionally poems.
