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On September 28, 2022, cross country teams from across the Bay Area gathered at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda to run in the annual Crab Cove meet.
The 3.06 mile course is slightly longer than several other courses included in the cross country season, which typically leads to decreases in times. However, for Encinal runners the race is just another run in the park.
“It was a familiar race because we run here often,” said Junior Isabela Macias-Fraser, who improved her time from last year’s Crab Cove meet by more than a minute.
Many of the Jets saw improvements from their past races, including sophomore Kate Shafer, who led the women’s team to a victory at the meet with a first-place finish.
“I feel like we have a pretty strong team,” said Shafer. “We have some good freshmen. And I think we’re closer in comparison to Alameda High.”
Alameda High is part of the Foothill League, meaning Encinal does not score against them for any meets. If the Encinal women’s cross country team had scored against Alameda in the Lowell Invitational and Hayward League meets, however, Encinal would have beaten Alameda for the first time in history in the Lowell meet and been three points away from a win on the Hayward course.
“I think the girls team is faster, so we definitely will [win league], but losing our senior definitely changes it for the boys,” said Shafer.
Shafer is speaking of 2022 graduate Ben Wilson-Ripsom, who won the individual first place title in the Shoreline league last season and piloted the Jets’ men’s team to their overall league win. Wilson-Ripsom holds 6 records in the cross country Hall of Fame, 3 of which he set last season. Despite the loss of one of their strongest runners, the boys team is not concerned.
“Yeah, we’re going to win league,” senior captain Diego Cerna said. “We always win league.”
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