To states or bust. The Adams boys and girls cross country teams made it all the way to States last year. Will they be able to repeat history?

Both teams relied on their top seven runners to get there, posing a difficult situation for the boys this season, as two of their fastest runners graduated last year. Matt Schiller and Colin Crusoe were crucial components of the team last year. Schiller, with a personal record of 16:08, and Crusoe, with a time of 16:05, were the second and third fastest runners on the team, but the team must go on. In their absence, who will step up this year and put in the extra work to fill their shoes?

Junior Peter Nolan put down a respectable time of 17:31.0 last season. Now, only a few meets into the season, he has almost beat his personal record. With a time of 17:31.2, Nolan took ninth place overall and third on the team at the Budd Invitational on September 1. This time sets him on pace with Schiller’s previous times, a runner who consistently ran similar times to Nolan throughout his own junior year.

Nolan, who runs even during the offseason, has high aspirations for the season.

“My goal this season is to run a 16:20 and make it to States as an individual,” said Nolan.

Though several varsity athletes returned this season, the new composition of the girls team has some questioning whether or not they can repeat history and make it to states again. With the depth offered by the incoming girls, there is no reason to doubt they will push to new limits.

Freshman Ally Soldan has run in several varsity races and challenges her older, more experienced teammates. She has worked extremely hard over the summer to be where she is now.

“I went to every practice in the summer, five days a week,” said Soldan. Not only does she work hard at practice, but she performs well on race day as well. Soldan has a personal record of 20:03.0, tying her as the sixth fastest girl on the team.

Sixth place is excellent, especially for a freshman, but Soldan aspires to continue improving.

“My goal this season is to become a top five runner,” said Soldan.

Soldan cannot let herself get too comfortable with her spot on the team, however, as fellow freshman Maria Franke is right on her heels with a personal record of 20:43.0. Franke is also a top seven runner at Adams, fluctuating in and out of the varsity lineup. Franke has high hopes for her team.

“Our team goal is for us to beat 19 minutes in the 5k,” said Soldan.

If each girl manages to run under 19 minutes, they will return to States with a higher standing than last year. This will require lots of hard work throughout the season, but nothing is impossible for these runners.

This season, for the boys’ team and girls’ team alike, many runners have stepped up their game, putting in hard work and setting high goals to work for during the season. Their coach has noticed and appreciated this hard work.

“The team this year is very confident, and they have goals they want to reach,” said Cross Country Coach Mr. Eric Lohr.

The success of the 2015 Rochester Adams Cross Country team has caused a snowball effect for this year. This year, the team is inspired to do as well, if not better, than the team last year. When this year’s seniors graduate, the team will have no need to fear, because the senior’s hard work and dedication have rubbed off on the underclassman. These young runners work hard to thrive and succeed to be just as great as those who came before them.