Morgan Hill – After two weeks of practice, the Live Oak girls
and boys cross country team combined has one senior, seven juniors,
seven sophomores, and one freshman for a total of 16 runners.
Morgan Hill – After two weeks of practice, the Live Oak girls and boys cross country team combined has one senior, seven juniors, seven sophomores, and one freshman for a total of 16 runners.
Head coach Dean Raymond, who is going into his 14th year as cross country coach at Live Oak, is hoping he’ll have close to thirty runners a week or two into the season, he said.
“Normally you get a bunch of freshman out, and sometimes they need a little push to come out, but I mean talk about a Bell Curve,” Raymond said in reference to the class make-up of his team.
With the majority of runners in their second and third years, Raymond is depending them to push each other.
“I chart their times each week so they can see their progress over the season,” he said.
Junior Anthony Macadaeg has looked extremely well in practice, Raymond said.
“He seems to have put in a lot of work over the summer and he looks like he’s going to be a great leader and a positive role model for the team,” he said.
He was our third or fourth runner last year and based on what I’ve seen so far he should be our No. 1 runner this year, Raymond said.
As a freshman on varsity last year, sophomore Greg Wong will also be one of Live Oak’s top runners.
“He will be pushing Anthony,” Raymond said.
On the girls team junior Olivia Duran will most likely be the No. 1 runner, and will definitely make an impact.
“She’s a petite girl but she’s got a big heart, and that’s another factor when it comes to racing,” Raymond said.
Sophomore Pauline Olsen will give Duran a run for her money, and “in the way Greg will push Anthony, Pauline will be pushing Olivia,” Raymond said. “Both Olsen and Duran are all-league material.”
This season will be Live Oak’s second year in the strong Mt. Hamilton division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, and will have to overcome teams like league champion Yerba Buena to finish on top.
“It’s not just running, it’s more than that,” Raymond said. “It’s how you run the hills, its strategy, there are tactics, and there’s also a mental part. You can psyche yourself up and you can psyche yourself out.
“People think ‘Go Run,’ well it’s a little bit more than just run. And I’m sure a lot of sports use running as punishment, and that’s where its somewhat of a challenge for cross country to get the athletes out.
“So you know the ones out there are out are there because they want to be, and that’s the enjoyable part of my job when I have athletes who want to be out there.”
Raymond admits running isn’t fun a lot of the time, so he tries to spice up practice with some eclectic workouts.
“More than anything though, (the runners) are looking forward to the rewards of doing well and improving their times,” he said.
For the last two years Live Oak has had a practice meet and barbecue with Gilroy High School at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.
“It’s not a rivalry, it’s a fun meet, and afterwards we have a barbecue,” Raymond said. “I think it’s a good way to start off the season.”
Be on he lookout for the lone returning senior Armando Rodriguez.
