When it comes to making a name for their team, girls cross country runs the show.

The team finished the regular season with a highly successful record of 209-13. Beating all other teams in the region, this year was the team’s eighth consecutive season going to the state finals. This year the girls finished second, beating their third place from last year’s state meet. Several key factors aided the team in their success.

“Most of the kids had all been at the state meet the year before, and I think being in the situation last year when we were vying for a state title too …  helps a little bit with the nerves,” girls cross country coach Nathan Newsome said.

Although the team had some issues with injured runners throughout the season, the majority of runners were healthy for the state meet, which was a crucial factor to their success.

“We were seeded second coming in, and, barring catastrophe, I think that that’s probably about where we were going to finish … it would have taken some bad luck for us to have not gotten second,” Newsome said.

The majority of runners finished with times close to their season best and one runner, sophomore Bailey Reutinger, even achieving a personal record of 19:07.

“We had a strong season and we raced well as a team. I set my season best at states, so it was a good day,” Reutinger said.

Another benefit the team had going into states was their familiarity with the course they were to run: Ivey Redmon Park.

“Course knowledge is very important, because you kinda know where stuff is … it was rainy the previous week and we got a lot of rain the day before [states], so we kinda had a good idea of what to expect,” Newsome said.

Out of the team’s top seven runners, only one, Zavera Basrai, will graduate this year, whereas Cardinal Gibbons High School, a team with nine straight championships, will be graduating four of their best runners. On paper, West’s team will be the early favorite for the season to come.

“We’re definitely optimistic looking to the season ahead,” Newsome said.

With the team’s top runners being comprised of mostly underclassmen, the next two years should track similarly to this past season.

“As far as for consistency, we’ve been really good. West is a good school with a good athletic programs and ours is among the best, and we hope to keep up with that success,” Newsome said.

As new runners come in during the seasons to come, Newsome and the team will be striding to keep up with the pack.