The final stretch comes around from the 5K race, yet they’re not thinking about anything but the finish.  Twenty feet more and it’s over.  Once they cross the finish, they become free of the muscle strain, free of the exhaustion, free of the pain and overjoyed with the finish.

Starting at 6 a.m. the workout begins.  Lightly jogging two laps around the track prior to the morning stretches, the cross-country team prepares for a day of running that could amount to nine miles.  Ivan Maguella wakes up for practice everyday with only one thing in mind: getting to state.

“We don’t just run to run.  We run for a state title,” Maguella said.

Going through a strict regimen of speed workouts and base runs prepares them for the meets ahead leading up to the district race and hopefully a shot at the state cross-country meet.  Mile repeats, long runs, and various stages of intervals.  Senior Raymond Mata has great expectations for the program and is working towards a great season.

“State or break. Anything less would be a failure in our eyes,” Mata said.

With a three time repeat this year at regionals, cross-country can become the first cross-country team in MISD history to go to regionals three years in a row.  Another first will be if the team makes it to state.

“This will be the best year for our program, and I believe we can go a long way,” Maguella said.

According to the varsity members, with the hard work and determination that this team has, they have a legitimate shot at making a run at the state meet.

“Impossible is nothing and we plan to achieve just that,” Mata said.