On September 27, the cross country team gathered at Saint Ignatius College Prep to hold a celebration for its seniors. In lieu of a normal practice, the team ran a one mile time trial, where friends and family could come watch. Afterwards, the family and coaches arranged for a dinner held in Tully Hall. The team ate tacos, cake, and burgers all made by El Changarro. To top off the night, juniors on the team gave heartfelt speeches to each of the seniors. The speeches were about fun memories, inside jokes, and most importantly each junior spoke about how much each girl meant to them.
Senior Greer Waller has been on the team since she was a sophomore. Greer said that her favorite part was the junior speeches because it “was amazing to see what others think of you.” She claimed the tacos were so good and so were the desserts. She said that “senior night is a great way to celebrate the team’s success with friends because not many people come to our meets.” Greer said that she loves cross country and the girls on the team are like her second family. She’s ”excited to see where the season takes us (hopefully state champs).”
Junior Kate Mcalister has been on the team since she was a freshman. She said that senior night “is a way to show appreciation to the seniors that have helped guide us since we were freshman and reflect on the friendships we made with them.” Her favorite part was planning the night and seeing it all come together. She said that “the speeches were very fun because you got to see how close some of the seniors and juniors have gotten over the past few years. However, they were also emotional because it’s the last season we get to spend with the seniors.” Kate definitely made it clear of how much senior night meant to her and the rest of the juniors on the team.
Saint Ignatius College Prep’s cross country senior night was a heartwarming event for the whole team. The night was not just about recognizing the girl’s athletic accomplishments but honoring the deep friendships that came from the team. From junior speeches to a shared meal, the night was filled with appreciation, laughter and emotional goodbyes.
