The Brookfield Central Girls’ Cross Country team has been chasing several goals this season: individual PRs, top-3 finishes at meets, and another shot at the 2024 State Championships in Wisconsin Rapids.
The team has been building on the momentum from their 2023 state-qualifying fall season, which serves as a great source of motivation for the team to qualify again. Last year’s season saw tough, state-ranked opponents during sectionals, including Wauwatosa East, Muskego, Waukesha West, Mukwonago, Brookfield East, Whitefish Bay, and Homestead.
Entering her third year on the team, Alexandra Rossi (’26) relived the experience, recalling, “We had been having a good season, so there was a team belief that everyone would do well at sectionals.” This belief in individual and team performances has also carried over to this season, with summer workouts and teambuilding functioning as the catalyst for a tight-knit group. Rossi also mentioned, “Seniors make up over half the entire team now. They’re like the core of our team, and having their leadership has definitely made both the JV and Varsity squads a lot stronger”. This synergy has been particularly important this fall, with injuries popping up sporadically. However, these ups and downs have only made the team more determined to perform well at the GMC Conference Championships and Sectional Championships, both of which will commence at Greenfield Park in West Allis.
This goal is certainly within their reach, as the varsity squad has attended five meets so far and has placed in the top two in all of them. The JV squad has also seen success at all of their meets, setting the standard for a team that is both consistent and adaptable. Though cross country often appears to be an individually driven sport, many forget that the team score is what earns the medals and qualifications. The team is put first even during training, as practices involve running with a partner at a set pace. As such, hitting a PR is a thorough reflection of the entire team’s commitment, hard work, and ambition.
This season is a turning point for the Girls’ cross-country team. Back-to-back state qualifications are right around the corner, and with it, a chance to represent the program’s dedication to producing team-oriented, passionate athletes.
