Although Cross Country is all about long-distance running, the season feels more like a dash, ending in late October.

The relatively small team accomplished big results this year, sending five runners to the Regional meet for the first time in school history.

The top runners on the team are junior Cassius Serff-Roberts and seniors Betty Ramos and Justin Lazzaro. At the district meet, Ramos placed 8th, Serff-Roberts placed 6th, and Lazzaro came in 5th.

Coach Juan Rodriguez said that he’s very proud of his runners’ performances. “We’ve had a consistent group of runners and their consistent work is paying off for them,” he said.

Serff-Roberts said that last season went rather well for him. “I didn’t finish in the places I expected to, my times were good also,” he said.

He said he improved this season by helping the team reach the Regional meet. He said competing at Regionals was a fun experience.

“Our coaches were proud of us, and we were proud of each other,” Serff-Roberts said. At Regionals, he placed 98th out of 176 participants.

Regardless of the outcome at Regionals, he is proud of his teammates. Ramos also had a good Cross Country season as she placed 8th in the District meet.

She said that last season treated her well as she had many friends on the team to help guide her. Ramos added that her highest placement was in a meet in Kyle as she placed 7th and received a medal.

Ramos said she was excited to compete at Regionals because she was the first girl from Akins to make it to the tournament. In the Regional meet she placed 55th out of 176 participants.

She said that this season has also been a good run for her. ”I did good, I gave it my all. If I could go back, I would do the same thing all over again,” she said.

Lazzaro said he helped the team overcome some difficulties. “This season was definitely better,” he said. “We put in more effort and overcame a lot of challenges to become the first year qualifiers for Akins.”

Lazzaro’s highest placement for the season was in the District meet, where he placed 5th. He, too, helped push his team forward towards Regionals.

He said that along with his teammates, they were elated to go to Regionals. ”We were the first ones to make it there from Akins. We all felt very accomplished knowing that all of our hard work had paid off,” he said.