Cross-country coaches spiced up the season with a neon-themed practice, bringing color and excitement to the team’s routine. On Oct. 7, athletes arrived decked out in bright outfits and face paint, ready for a night of friendly competition and team bonding.

Being a student-athlete can create routines that, while necessary, can become exhausting. The same pattern of waking up, spending 7 hours at school, and heading straight to after-school responsibilities can become tiring. As fun as it might sound, a little change can sometimes be exactly what’s needed.

As the girls began arriving, they greeted each other in neon outfits. For the upcoming workout, they prepped with face paint and costumes.

Throughout the night, everyone brought positive energy, showing friendly competition toward one another.

“Even though my team lost, I still felt amazing. We all tried our hardest and cheered each other on,” junior Brissia Bucio said.

Runners were bundled up for the cold night, ready to be split into teams. Coaches mixed up the runners, aiming to balance the teams by pace and numbers. The results couldn’t be determined by just one look, as the long-distance runners were sprinting against each other.

Some dressed more festively than others, but the cheer was equally spread throughout the chilly night. The girls’ and boys’ cross-country teams were split and mixed, encouraging everyone to discuss strategy.

While waiting for their turn on the course, team members were given tasks, including holding squats, lunges, and push-ups.

Hearts raced, each beat intensifying as they waited for their turn in the relay. Positions shifted constantly—teams moved from 3rd to 5th, then from 5th to 1st, and so on.

In an unexpected twist, some of the cross-country team’s fastest runners did not place high in this friendly relay race.

“It was pretty fun. It was a change of pace, definitely,” senior Fenil Patel said.

All team members seemed to enjoy this change. “It was a really great way to bring both the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams together,” junior Valeria Ballines said.

After completing the 6-team relay race, everyone cooled down and gathered for a final picture to commemorate the night.

“I would really like it to happen again, and I think it helps the team form a stronger bond,” senior Romeo Alfaro, cross country captain, said.